Optoelectronics firms may be interested in the potential impact that voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and its increasing popularity with users of the latest handheld telecommunications technology may have on those network brands.
Darren Keirle, editor of mobile phone news website MyGreatPhone.com, said that VoIP could bring significant economic problems in terms of revenue generation for these operators with roaming charges for international calls.
According to data from Juniper Research published last week, the number of VoIP minutes carried yearly by third generation and fourth generation (4G) networks will rise from 15 billion minutes this year up to 470.6 billion in 2015.
Mr Keirle noted that customers wanted the cheapest value available to them and traditional operators have been unable to compete thanks to the "incredible costs" that come with creating a high-speed network.
However, he stated that while there is demand for 4G in the UK which would allows operators to offer their own VoIP services, they are unlikely to push for it until it is cost-effective for them.