NEW DELHI, INDIA: One of the hottest topics under debate in telecom these days is the emergence of what have become known as ‘triple’ or ‘quad’ play service providers.

Using a single core network infrastructure and associated OSS/BSS IT systems, service providers who traditionally focused only on one service domain – such as cellular, fixed or cable entertainment – are now moving into adjacent fields on the game board.

What were once fixed boundaries between different technologies and industry sub-sectors are becoming highly permeable and service providers have to move out of their comfort zones to compete in new areas for access to the customers’ pockets and purses.

The late ‘90s may have seen a stirring of some of the technological and commercial forces now being unleashed - such as early versions of VoIP, content services and the emergence of many small service providers - but these largely fizzled out during the financial downtime.

Now, however, these are back with a vengeance, along with some newer and largely unexpected entrants such as community networking services from MySpace, and the tentacle-like reach of web-based entities like Google.

As each service provider gears up for this seismic shift in the telecom terrain, assembling armouries of new technologies, services and partnerships, long term commercial success is only going to come by coordinating an increasingly diverse and complex set of activities and focusing these more directly on the customer.

What has historically been a relatively two-dimensional service world is fast becoming multi-dimensional, challenging traditional business models. The issue now is how to make money through all these new customer delivery channels in a world where revenues from voice calls continue to fall.

Facing competition across multiple dimensions - simultaneously

The forces driving this change are already becoming clear. Wireless communications in both cellular and WiFi/WiMax/WLL incarnations are rapidly becoming ubiquitous in both developed and developing countries with VoIP-based services already starting to challenge and indeed bypass the cellular incumbents.

Location services, long reliant on over-complex technologies and dubious business cases look set to enjoy a resurgence of interest, building on open platforms like GoogleEarth and Web 2.0 concepts. On top of this, the growing confidence in the MVNO model will continue to increase service and application diversity in both the enterprise and personal communications spheres.