As we close out 2017, we look forward to which sectors will show strong growth going forward. Next year looks to be a very exciting time filled with strong growth in certain sectors and certain companies. Let’s take a look at some of the strong growth areas as we approach 2018 and beyond.
There are key sectors like wireless, cloud, IoT, AI, AR and so much more. Growth will continue in these sectors, but will include new areas as well. Plus, there are key players within those sectors to keep an eye on as well. Not every company will show strong and rapid growth, but there will be plenty of big winners in 2018.
Wireless Growth: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Xfinity Mobile, Project Fi
Traditional fast-growing spaces like wireless will continue and start heading in new directions as well. We know the top players in the wireless space are AT&T (T) Mobility, Verizon (VZ) Wireless, T-Mobile (TMUS) and Sprint (S). We know top handset and wireless tech companies are Apple (AAPL) iPhone, Google (GOOGL) Android and Samsung (SSNLF) Galaxy.
However, the MVNO space is now rapidly growing as well. Expect to see more wireless MVNO players enter the market. This has been around for a while with services like Tracfone, but now Comcast (CMCSA) Xfinity Mobile and Google Project Fi are players in what could be a powerful growth segment of wireless. In 2018, I also expect Charter (CHTR) Communications to enter the wireless space like Comcast did.
Cloud Growth: AWS, Azure, IBM Cloud, Google Cloud, Frontier Cloud
The cloud space will continue to grow on the fast track. Expect to see growth jump from $70 billion today to more than $140 billion in the next few years. There are two sides of the cloud space, public and private. Public cloud is like Amazon Web Services or AWS. Companies also operate their own cloud systems and these are private.
Leadership in cloud services will continue to grow and to change over the next several years. Some of these cloud companies to keep an eye on are AWS, Microsoft (MSFT) Azure, IBM (IBM) Cloud, Google Cloud Platform, Frontier (FTR) Cloud and others.
Watch Siyata Wireless PTT, Charter Wireless, Amazon, Facebook and More
We saw companies like Amazon (AMZN) with their Fire phone and Facebook (FB) with their smartphone try and fail in the wireless space several years ago. I expect them and others to take another shot at this big wireless prize. After all, Comcast just did with Xfinity Mobile and are doing quite well during their first few months in wireless this time around.
Wireless growth will continue to come from traditional areas with networks like AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint and handset makers like Apple iPhone, Google Android and Samsung Galaxy.
Expect new players to enter this wireless space and show new growth. New companies like Siyata Mobile which is bringing Push-to-Talk or PTT service back to the marketplace. This was a popular service and there is still a strong demand for it, especially on the business side of the equation.
There is still much more companies and ideas to talk about, but the bottom line is, growth will come from many different sectors, but will all use wireless, telecom and the Internet to grow going forward.
This is an exciting time we are entering. A time filled with new ideas and new winners. Consider how the wireless world and wireless data have created new opportunity for new businesses to start and grow. Businesses like Uber, Lyft, Nest, Ring and so much more. So, buckle your seatbelts. 2018 will be one helluva year.
Jeff Kagan is an Equities.com columnist. Kagan is a Wireless Analyst, Telecom Analyst, Industry Analyst, speaker and consultant. He follows wireless, wire line, telecom, Internet, cable TV, IPTV, Cloud, Mobile Pay, FinTech and communications technology. Email him at [email protected]. His web site is www.jeffKAGAN.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffkagan.
