BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading telecommunications research and consulting firm, The Eastern Management Group, today announced the release of the names of the World's 50 Largest Telecommunications Service Providers for 2006. Compilation of the list is an annual joint effort between the firm's two largest and oldest practices. The Service Provider Consulting Practice assists businesses to establish and manage distribution channels and channel partners that sell to service providers throughout the world; while the Service Provider Market Research Practice performs ongoing tracking of all of the world's telecommunications service providers, in more than 200 countries and territories.

Combined revenue for the top 50 service providers worldwide in 2006 was $1.2 trillion (USD). In 2007 The Eastern Management Group estimates that organic growth for the group will increase revenue five and a half percent.

Key drivers behind the 2006 revenue growth of the 50 service providers were demand for wireless services, plus several mergers and acquisitions, as the telecommunications industry continued down a path of consolidation. In 2007, growing demand for data and video will add to the revenue acceleration of the group.

Among the 50 largest service providers, European companies constituted 37 percent of the $1.2 trillion revenue total; Asian businesses accounted for 27 percent; and US and Canadian service providers were 26 percent. Four companies in the CALA region made the list of 50, as did two in the Middle East and Africa.

"For telecommunications manufacturers and software companies that sell to service providers, these 50 businesses are the customer sweet spot," said John Malone, CEO of The Eastern Management Group. "They account for the majority of the world's telecommunications service provider sales and purchases. Large suppliers frequently have their direct sales force call on these accounts, while using channel partners to address smaller service provider opportunities."

50 Largest Service Providers for 2006

Rank Service Provider           Rank Service Provider
 1   NTT                         26  TeliaSonera
 2   Verizon Communications      27  China Unicom Ltd.
 3   AT&T Inc.                   28  China Netcom Corporation
 4   Deutsche Telekom            29  SK Telecom
 5   Telefonica                  30  Softbank Telecom
 6   France Telecom              31  Portugal Telecom
 7   Vodafone Group              32  TDC Denmark
 8   NTT DoCoMo                  33  Rogers Communications Inc.
 9   Sprint Nextel Corporation   34  Telemar Norte Leste
 10  Telecom Italia              35  Singapore Telecom
 11  China Mobile (HK) Ltd       36  Alltel Corp.
 12  BellSouth Corp.             37  Telkom SA
 13  BT Group                    38  Swisscom
 14  KDDI                        39  TELUS Corporation
 15  China Telecom               40  Belgacom
 16  America Telecom SA de CV    41  Tele Norte Leste Participacoes ON
 17  America Movil               42  Telkom
 18  Telstra Corporation Limited 43  OTE
 19  BCE Inc.                    44  MTN Group Ltd
 20  Telefonos de Mexico         45  KTF
 21  Carso Global Telecom        46  Tele2
 22  KPN Telecom                 47  Telesp Fixed ON
 23  Telenor                     48  Embarq Corp
 24  Qwest Communications        49  MTS
 25  KT Corp.                    50  Wind Telecomunicazioni