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Analytics/Big Data

AT&T Eyes Big Data Revenues

AT&T Inc. has unveiled plans to make money from the mountain of subscriber data it holds in its back-office systems.

The carrier has announced its intention to update its customer privacy policy so that it can aggregate customer data that can then be sold to advertisers and marketing firms.

The details of the new privacy policy, which was first spotted by Fierce Wireless, are here.

Not surprisingly, especially so soon after the revelations of National Security Agency (NSA) snooping, AT&T is stressing the privacy controls inherent in its policy, which covers fixed as well as mobile customers -- "We know our customers care about privacy just as we do ... We don't sell your personal information..." the carrier notes. (See Prism in a Big Data World.)

With all CSPs looking for new revenue streams and seeking ways to generate cash from their vast volumes of network and subscriber data, AT&T will be just one of many that will be making such announcements in the coming years. After all, they're not investing in Big Data platforms and analytics tools for fun and they've all seen how the Web services giants, such as Google and Facebook, have turned user data into cash. (See That Big Data Sinking Feeling.)

Apple Inc., meanwhile, is an old hand at this game. (See Marketers Slam Apple's Privacy Invasion.)

AT&T isn't the first operator to go down this route, of course: Verizon Wireless formed its Precision Market Insights team in 2012, following an update to its own privacy policy.

China Unicom Ltd., too, has been putting its subscriber data to work. (See The Golden Touch of Data Assets: Precision Operation.)

Industry analysts have long noted that CSPs have a richer set of information than their Web services rivals and need to find ways to generate new revenues from that advantage: AT&T's move is evidence that CSPs might now be gaining confidence about the business strategies they're developing around the Big Data trend.

As we noted earlier this year, the CSPs have a lot to figure out when it comes to Big Data strategies, but they can't afford to procrastinate for too long. (See The Big Data Challenge: 10 Tips for Telcos.)

-- Ray Le Maistre, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

brookseven 7/5/2013 | 4:22:19 PM
re: AT&T Eyes Big Data Revenues How universal will your rules be and will they be applied globally?

seven
ReuvenH 7/5/2013 | 2:54:20 PM
re: AT&T Eyes Big Data Revenues Reuven Harrison, CTO, Tufin Technologies:

As the case of Snowden (the PRISM whistleblower) has recently highlighted, the privacy and collection of data is a major issue for businesses and consumers alike. Recently we saw a UK bank announced they are selling data to other companies and increasingly weGÇÖre seeing issues with corporations selling consumer data to each other and governments.

Yes, itGÇÖs all within the confines of privacy laws but at times the rules are
being bent to suit purpose. The main issue is that individuals donGÇÖt have
control over what data is passed on by companies or governments that store their personal details. And what use are rules if governments can bypass them?

At Tufin weGÇÖve seen multiple large-scale security incidents which highlighted the stealing of user data GÇô weGÇÖve seen some of them on the news. HereGÇÖs one for example: http://nakedsecurity.sophos.co....

With more and more data being exchanged, the high level of protection enjoyed by businesses and the government should be passed on to consumers. Why should credit card companies be able to fine enterprises who donGÇÖt comply with PCI DSS rules on protecting data and consumers be left without a voice?

A fundamental level of enforced law which forces companies to adhere to universal rules and increased education would help consumers to understand their rights and collectively reduce the stealing of personal data. It may also encourage consumers to think before using supposedly GÇÿfreeGÇÖ services such as apps, browsers and search engines.
[email protected] 7/5/2013 | 12:37:05 PM
re: AT&T Eyes Big Data Revenues You say AT&T does not "have the right platform" -- what 'platform' should it have, do you think?
Atlantis-dude 7/5/2013 | 2:49:33 AM
re: AT&T Eyes Big Data Revenues It is hard for CSPs to sell this data as they don't have the right platform. Besides, they lack the ecosystem for this software intensive business.
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