https://tech.newstatesman.com/business/telco-acquisitions

Judging by telco executives’ M&A intentions, network operators are feeling increasingly acquisitive.

Results from EY’s most recent Global Capital Confidence Barometer, which includes an annual survey of merger and acquisition (M&A) sentiment across industries, shows that 55 per cent of telecommunications industry respondents expect to pursue acquisitions in the next 12 months, up from 45 per cent on average in the past few years. However, one thing seems clear from the high-level conclusions: the idea of consolidating operators in the market appears low on the list of priorities. Rather, carriers seem to be looking to flesh out their service portfolios by acquiring companies in adjacent industries (most likely gaming, entertainment, and IoT).