The digital challenge for multinational mobile network operators. More marginalization or rejuvenation?

Article


Gooderham, P., Elter, F., Pedersen, T. and Sandvik, A. 2022. The digital challenge for multinational mobile network operators. More marginalization or rejuvenation? Journal of International Management. 28 (4), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2022.100946
TypeArticle
TitleThe digital challenge for multinational mobile network operators. More marginalization or rejuvenation?
AuthorsGooderham, P., Elter, F., Pedersen, T. and Sandvik, A.
Abstract

Multinational mobile network operators (MNOs) rapidly emerged in the early 1990s and for a decade and a half were the dominant actors in their industry. We analyze the development and competitiveness of a typical MNO, Telenor. With the introduction of 4G in 2010, we show that Telenor, like other MNOs largely failed to respond to the opportunity that connectivity provided to develop digital services. Instead, these were developed by technology platform companies such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Telenor became a marginalized supplier of standardized internet connectivity. We argue that the ‘decade of lost opportunity’ (2010-2020) for Telenor was a product of a lack of ‘recombinant firm-specific advantages’ (FSARs). With the launch of 5G, an emerging global digital infrastructure, this sidelining is set to intensify unless Telenor responds to this new opportunity by developing B2B digital services. We analyze the FSARs that are necessary for a successful transition of capturing the value that 5G provides and the degree to which they are present, or potentially present, in Telenor.

PublisherElsevier
JournalJournal of International Management
ISSN1075-4253
Publication dates
Online15 Mar 2022
Print31 Dec 2022
Publication process dates
Deposited14 Mar 2022
Accepted08 Mar 2022
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Restricted
Copyright Statement

Published version: © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2022.100946
LanguageEnglish
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