WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United Telecom Council’s recently released report “What Utilities Buy: Evaluating the Market for Telecom Equipment and Services Sold to Utilities” covers the results of a survey of utility telecom managers and engineers throughout the United States.
“This report is a breath of fresh air for a struggling industry of telecom equipment manufacturers and service providers,” said Beth Griffiths, UTC’s director of research. “Utilities are still a viable and attractive telecom market segment, and UTC believes that now more than ever it is important to get that message out to the marketplace.”
The report found, for example, that electric and gas utilities represent the second-largest market segment for telecommunications equipment and services sales in the United States, with spending of about $3.5 billion in 2001 on telecom equipment and services. It also names utilities among the strongest and most financially secure telecom buyers, with their telecom spending changing little for 2001 to 2002.
