Saitharn, Getty Images via Canva Pro
https://tbri.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/telecom-signal-tower_saitharn_getty-imaes.png
1080
1080
Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst
https://tbri.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/TBR-Insight-Center-Logo.png
Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst2026-01-13 09:56:502026-01-13 10:07:54The U.S. doesn’t have a Spectrum Shortage — It has a Utilization ProblemYou are here: Home1 / Competitive Insights – Analyst Perspectives – TBR2 / Competitive Insights and Analyses Blog
Saitharn, Getty Images via Canva Pro
https://tbri.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/telecom-signal-tower_saitharn_getty-imaes.png
1080
1080
Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst
https://tbri.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/TBR-Insight-Center-Logo.png
Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst2026-01-13 09:56:502026-01-13 10:07:54The U.S. doesn’t have a Spectrum Shortage — It has a Utilization Problem
Shutdown Ends, but Federal Contractors Face a Slow Return to Normal
The 43-day U.S. federal government shutdown, the longest in history, came to a welcome end on Nov. 13, 2025, but for some federal systems integrators (FSIs), the shutdown’s impact could linger well into federal fiscal year 2026 (FFY26). According to the Professional Services Council, the national trade association for federal technology and professional services contractors, it will take three to five days for agency functions to return to normal for each day of the shutdown, implying that operations at some agencies may not return to normal until March 2026.
Getty Images via Canva ProPartnerships, Not Products, Will Define How Consultancies and Native AI Companies Share Value in Agentic AI Era
Just like supporting startup programs, many traditional IT services companies and consultancies have struggled to adequately put themselves in their alliance partners’ shoes. And when those partners are startups or immature native AI companies, that struggle will be harder in the absence of leadership, strategic direction and sustained investment. But that’s the potential downside. The upside is that consultancies are perfectly positioned to be change management specialists, helping their largest clients adopt the best new AI.
Getty Images via Canva ProHuman Capital Management in the Age of (Agentic) AI
Fundamentally HR management remains a back-office function that IT services companies and consultancies can use to drive managed services engagements. And TBR’s research shows that managed services can lead to additional consulting opportunities, particularly when managed services providers (whether a traditional IT services company or consultancy) partners smartly with technology companies, leveraging the data and insights generated through back-office platforms to uncover issues and opportunities.
Getty Images via Canva ProGenAI Outcomes or Autonomous AI Architecture: Where Should CIOs Focus?
What good are AI-enabled solutions if an enterprise’s IT environment and architecture can’t handle the data orchestration demands and IT becomes a roadblock to faster, better, clearer insights from AI, rather than the business accelerator expected of IT departments in the AI era? After more than a decade of consultancies and IT services companies helping IT departments become business drivers, will inadequate architecture slow down AI adoption and AI agents at scale?
Amdocs Is Well Positioned to Continue Absorbing Market Share in the Telecom Industry; AI Is a Key Growth Vector
Although TBR believes it is very early days for agentic AI branding, Amdocs’ early foray into this emerging area and thought leadership underscore how the company is seeking to move into new and adjacent areas as it expands its offerings, especially around consulting, design and transformation enablement.
Getty Images Signature via Canva ProHCLTech’s Expanding KYC Journey: From Technology Provider to Trusted Compliance Partner
By evolving its KYC offerings across platforms and clients, HCLTech has shifted from tech implementer to outcomes-driven partner.

DOGE drives civil sector slowdown; defense contractors gear up as Trump’s budget shifts billions to military priorities
The Trump administration’s recent “skinny” budget proposal for FFY26 suggests that nondefense spending will fall from around $720 billion in FFY25 to approximately $557 billion in FFY26, representing a 23% decline. Contractors with any level of exposure to the civilian sector can expect agency reorganizations, layoffs, budget reductions and in-depth contract reviews within civil agencies for the remainder of FFY25 and likely into at least the first half of FFY26. The pace of new awards has already slowed significantly at some civilian agencies, as has the rate of new bookings on existing civilian engagements.
Getty ImagesGeopolitics with Purpose: EY-Parthenon Drives Strategy, Not Just Awareness
TBR has long maintained that the Big Four firms have an inherent advantage against all competitors when it comes to understanding and advising on geopolitical risk. Perhaps only the U.S. government has the same global spread of talent, with professionals in nearly every country, most intimately aware of local business, economic and even political trends. When EY-Parthenon showed off its Geopolitical Advisory team recently, TBR wanted to know: Is this something special?
Our most-read analysis, free in your inbox each week!
Fill out the form to the right to subscribe to Insights Flight today

How to Gain Cloud Market Share in 2024
/by Allan Krans, Practice Manager and Principal AnalystExplore the evolving cloud market landscape in 2024. Vendors must adopt strategic approaches to gain market share, leveraging AI-led growth, expanding addressable markets, and orchestrating multivendor partnerships. Discover TBR’s predictions for the evolving cloud market in 2024.
Open RAN Adoption in 2024
/by Chris Antlitz, Principal AnalystExplore the slow development of the open RAN market in 2024. Despite vendor marketing and CSP interest, technological complexity and cost hinder mainstream adoption. Open RAN deployments remain limited to greenfield networks, while vRAN gains traction for its agility and cost efficiencies. Download TBR’s predictions for the telecom market in 2024 for insights into industry responses to challenges.
Expectations for AI PCs in 2024
/by Ben Carbonneau, Senior Data AnalystDiscover the buzz around AI PCs reshaping the device industry. As hardware advances, software development lags, delaying potential commercial PC refreshes. Dive into predictions for 2024 with TBR Senior Analyst Ben Carbonneau.
GenAI Expectations for Enterprise Buyers in 2024
/by Bozhidar Hristov, Principal AnalystDiscover how GenAI is reshaping enterprise landscapes in 2024. With heightened expectations, vendors must showcase tangible use cases and outcomes. Explore how GenAI intersects with digital transformation predictions and the imperative for preparedness in data architecture. Unlock insights into navigating the GenAI journey for sustainable growth. Download TBR’s Top Predictions for Digital Transformation in 2024 for a comprehensive outlook.
GenAI and the Power of the Use Case
/by Patrick Heffernan, Practice Manager and Principal AnalystIn 2024, vendors adept at collaboration in the GenAI space and substantiating their promises with actual client outcomes will lead the pack. Those lacking in either area may still ride the GenAI wave, but they risk lagging behind with subpar results and waning market relevance.
Service Providers: IT Modernization Isn’t Flashy, but It Leads to Tangible Savings. Here’s How …
/by Chris Antlitz, Principal AnalystAI (especially generative AI) is of particular interest to service providers f late following technological breakthroughs from OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform, which has demonstrated that generative AI has developed to a point that it is able to bring useful outcomes to businesses and consumers alike.
Top 2023 Takeaways for the Federal IT Services Market [Infographic]
/by John Caucis, Senior AnalystThis infographic contains the three key takeaways from TBR’s latest research on the U.S. federal IT services market and what these events mean for you. Infographic includes takeaways for stakeholders, including M&A prospects, resilient spending trends, and the rise of advisory practices, amidst unprecedented growth in federal IT services.
Product Innovation – How IT Service Vendors are Leveraging Competitive Intelligence
/by Kelly Lesiczka, Senior AnalystIT services vendors are ramping up innovation efforts and bringing in new expertise and resources experience to address emerging needs as client demand reflects a stronger emphasis on software and efficiency solutions.
Strategic Synergy: Maximizing Technology Alliances in the Ever-Changing IT Landscape
/by Patrick Heffernan, Practice Manager and Principal AnalystAs everyone expands their offerings and capabilities, knowing the full scope of what your partners do matters now more than ever for success in alliances.
Innovative Ecosystem Expansion: Leveraging Tech Startups for Sustainable Growth in IT Services
/by Kelly Lesiczka, Senior AnalystExpanding ecosystems to include tech startups and research academia will be key to vendors successfully collaborating with partners and clients, remaining ahead of trends and evolving portfolio offerings