The managed services market for service providers will continue to grow and service providers will especially seek managed services to enable them to focus on driving new business opportunities, for example around unified communications. Key market players, such as Nokia Siemens Networks, Ericsson, Nortel, or Alcatel-Lucent, can benefit from this trend.

"Wireless operators in Western Europe have been more willing than fixed-line operators to outsource the expansion, operation, and management of their wireless networks to network equipment vendors. However, IDC believes that there will be a significant opportunity for managed services offered to European fixed-line service providers," said Roosmarijn Cornelissen, research analyst, European Network Life-Cycle Services.