The indigenous Telecoms, Internet, Media & Entertainment (TIME) sector has grown its international footprint over the last six years.
Enterprise Ireland now has a vibrant cluster of more than 200 companies with global reach, providing technology solutions and support services across the value chain of the TIME sector.
Ireland has a strong reputation of attracting global players in the TIME arena. To date IBM, Microsoft, Yahoo, Intel, Google, Facebook, Hutchison (3) and Telefónica (O2) have all established a significant presence here.
The continued adoption of high-speed internet (fixed and mobile) as
a direct channel opens up a significant revenue opportunity and Irish companies are well placed to service this market.
Key Sector Characteristics
Ireland has a proven track record of innovation in the TIME arena. It was an Irish company, Aldiscon, which developed the world’s first SMS texting application. Today, leading Irish companies continue to implement change in the global market. This includes mobile telecoms with very strong knowledge around network management, OSS/BSS, service delivery and messaging, and a number of companies provide products and services in this area.
With the convergence of fixed, mobile and internet, Irish companies are evolving their product and service offering for next generation networks. Ireland has an emerging internet cluster focusing on B2B and B2C solutions. On the content side, Ireland has a strong international film and audio visual industry. The animation cluster of companies provides content and services to international markets.
The global media market is projected to register 6.6 per cent growth to e1.2 billion by 2010, mainly driven by the growth in broadband internet and mobile type device usage.
Growth Areas
Enterprise Ireland has identified the following areas as presenting growth opportunities over the next three years with key emphasis on mobile, TV and internet convergence.
Mobility
- Consumer and Enterprise solutions
- Telecom/Mobile
- Security/data platforms, Telco 2.0 solutions, messaging
- Marketing/advertising solutions
- Widgets and apps
Internet
- Location-based solutions
- Niche social networks
- Software as a service (SAAS) solutions
- Widgets
Media and Entertainment
- Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)
- User generated content for cross media platforms
- Interactive programming
In Australia/New Zealand
The delivery of software solutions into the ANZ region accounts for more than 50% of the total exports from Ireland and exceeds some A$200m per annum.
Irish companies have demonstrated particular capability in the implementation of solutions that maximise the users experience with their mobile device, the telecoms customers revenue per user and the performance of the telecommunications carriers infrastructure assets to name but a few.
For further details of all Irish companies providing services to the ANZ TIME sector, please click here.