What Rethink Technology Research does

Rethink Technology Research is a privately held, UK-based B2B research and consulting firm founded in 2002 in Bristol by Peter White (CEO) and Caroline Gabriel (former Research Director, departed 2023). The company specializes in expert analysis of the wireless and cellular ecosystem and the media and entertainment technology landscape, serving mobile network operators, technology vendors, pay TV and OTT streaming companies, broadcasters, investors, and regulators globally.

The firm's product portfolio is anchored by two flagship subscription-based weekly publications: Wireless Watch, covering 5G/6G wireless networks since 2002, and Faultline, covering streaming media and the entertainment ecosystem. These are complemented by two forecasting services—RAN Research (wireless infrastructure, Open RAN, 5G/6G) and Rethink TV (video codecs, CDN, XR devices)—and an expanding catalog of individual forecast reports including Operator Capex, Cell Tower, Video Codecs, Smart Glasses, CDN, Fixed Wireless Access, and Telco GPUaaS forecasts for 2025-2031. Bespoke consulting, live expert webinars, and podcasts distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts round out the offering. The underlying technology is a research and editorial platform built on WordPress with MailChimp distribution and a subscriber login system; the firm's competitive differentiation rests on human-authored independent analysis, 20+ years of archived market intelligence, and rigorous economic modeling of technology adoption timelines.

Rethink operates a sales-led go-to-market targeting enterprise technology buyers directly through its website (rethinkresearch.biz), with annual subscriptions invoiced on 30-day non-refundable terms and individual report purchases available a la carte. Revenue streams span recurring subscriptions, individual report sales, bespoke consulting engagements, and webinars. The firm maintains global reach through named enterprise clients such as Synamedia, VIAVI Solutions, Samsung Electronics America, Protelindo, MediaKind, and AirTies, with active presence at industry events including NAB Show (Las Vegas) and StreamTV Europe (Lisbon) as a media partner. With a team of 1-10 employees, Rethink functions as a boutique specialist rather than a scaled research platform.

Name

Rethink Technology Research

Legal name

Rethink Technology Research Limited

Website

https://rethinkresearch.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rethink Technology Research is a privately held, Bristol-based B2B research and consulting firm founded in 2002 that publishes subscription-based weekly analysis of the wireless/cellular and media/entertainment technology sectors, serving MNOs, vendors, streamers, broadcasters, and investors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Market Research & Consulting

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB)

Keywords

• Technology market research
• Wireless industry forecasts
• Media entertainment analysis
• Telecom consulting services
• Video codec forecasts

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Services: Weekly research publications and newsletters (Wireless Watch and Faultline) delivered as recurring subscriptions, providing ongoing market intelligence and analysis to subscribers
2. Market Forecast Reports: Formal revenue forecasts for sub-sectors of wireless and video markets, sold as individual report purchases with detailed market sizing, projections, and vendor analysis
3. Consulting Services: Bespoke consulting including white papers, business plans, strategy consulting, market surveys, supplier selection, and capital sourcing assistance for technology companies
4. Webinars: Live expert webinars presenting research findings followed by Q&A sessions with attendees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rethink Technology Research provides subscription-based weekly research publications (Wireless Watch for wireless/cellular and Faultline for media & entertainment), formal multi-year revenue forecasts for sub-sectors such as operator capex, cell towers, video codecs, smart glasses, CDN, and telco GPUaaS, live expert webinars, and bespoke consulting including white papers, market sizing, go-to-market strategy, and supplier selection for technology businesses globally.

Product overview

Rethink Technology Research is a research and analysis firm offering a multi-product portfolio centered on two subscription-based weekly publications—Wireless Watch and Faultline—complemented by specialized forecasting services (RAN Research, Rethink TV) and bespoke consulting. The core products provide independent analysis of wireless/cellular and media/entertainment sectors. Additional offerings include market forecast reports on operator capex, cell towers, video codecs, smart glasses, CDN, fixed wireless access, and telco GPUaaS, as well as podcasts and consulting services. The company was founded in 2002 and serves operators, vendors, investors, and regulators worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wireless Watch Subscription-based weekly analysis publication covering the wireless and cellular ecosystem, providing independent forward-looking analysis for operators, technology vendors, investors, and regulators worldwide since 2002.
• Faultline Subscription-based weekly analysis publication covering the media and entertainment landscape, providing competitive intelligence for pay TV, OTT, digital entertainment, and broadband companies.
• RAN Research Forecasting service predicting the longer-term future of core technologies and the ecosystem shaping the wireless industry, including 5G, 6G, Open RAN, and related infrastructure, built on rigorous economic modelling.
• Rethink TV Forecasting service analyzing video delivery, business models, and core underlying technologies including video codecs, CDN, and XR devices, providing 5-year forecasts.
• Operator Capex Forecast Forecast report mapping operator capex as companies head into the 6G transition period, analyzing 5G spending patterns to anticipate timing and scale of future infrastructure investment.
• Cell Tower Forecast Forecast report analyzing tower market economics, portfolio valuations, and competitive opportunities for tower companies, MNOs, and RAN vendors.
• Video Codecs Forecast Forecast report tracking codec adoption across device shipments and installed base, covering MPEG-2, AVC, HEVC, VVC, AV1, AV2, and LCEVC, with patent and royalty analysis.
• Smart Glasses Forecast Forecast report assessing the commercial opportunity across the XR ecosystem, covering Mobile Smart Glasses, VR headsets, and Lean-back Glasses with AI inferencing opportunity analysis.
• CDN Forecast Forecast report projecting the global CDN market and M&E subset with regional traffic patterns, addressable TAM, and SOM revenue opportunities.
• Fixed Wireless Access Forecast Forecast report identifying FWA opportunities in 5G densification strategies, breaking down 5G/4G connection growth, consumer/business adoption, revenue outlook, and regional forecasts.
• Telco GPUaaS Forecast Forecast report examining the GPU-as-a-Service opportunity for MNOs, analyzing demand for low-latency AI workloads, monetization potential, and the competitive landscape versus hyperscalers.
• Consulting Services Bespoke consulting services including white papers, go-to-market strategies, market sizing studies, corporate presentations, supplier selection, capital sourcing assistance, and event consulting for wireless and video industry clients.

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NAB ShowcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Media partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters for NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas. Rethink's Faultline publication serves as a media partner, providing coverage and thought leadership content for the premier global broadcast, media and entertainment industry event.
• StreamTV EuropecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Rethink serves as media partner for StreamTV Europe event in Lisbon, Portugal. The company uses promo code RETHINK for 10% discount on passes. This expands on the successful US StreamTV Show to European streaming market.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IDC: Global market intelligence firm covering telecom, media, and technology broadly. Comparable in offering syndicated research and forecasts, though at far greater scale and breadth than Rethink.
• SNL Kagan (S&P Global): S&P Global's media and communications research arm, providing forecasts on pay TV, OTT, and broadcasting. Direct overlap with Rethink TV and Faultline, but delivered as part of a much larger financial intelligence platform.
• Gartner: Largest IT research and advisory firm globally. Competes for the same enterprise research budgets as Rethink, particularly from operators and large vendors, though its coverage is far broader and advisory-heavy.
• Omdia: Large-scale technology research firm (part of Informa Tech) covering telecoms, media, and enterprise IT. Overlaps with Rethink on wireless infrastructure and video/OTT research but serves a far broader portfolio of enterprise buyers.

Direct peers

• Dell'Oro Group: Independent market research firm specializing in telecom infrastructure, including RAN, optical, and data center markets. Direct overlap with Rethink's RAN Research and Operator Capex forecasts.
• Mobile Experts: Specialist research firm focused on mobile and wireless infrastructure forecasts. Comparable to Rethink in size, subscription-forecast model, and wireless/5G/6G focus.
• Analysys Mason: Global research and consulting firm specializing in telecoms, media, and technology. Most directly comparable to Rethink given shared focus on wireless, video, and operator strategy; also notably hired Rethink co-founder Caroline Gabriel in 2023.
• CCS Insight: UK-based boutique research firm providing forecasts and analysis on wireless, mobile, and connected devices. Closely comparable to Rethink in size, geography, and B2B subscription/forecast model.

Emerging players

• Parks Associates: US-based research firm covering connected consumer technologies, streaming, and broadband. Comparable to Rethink's Faultline publication in addressing video/streaming and home networking markets.
• Futurium / Futuresource Consulting: UK-based market research firm covering media, entertainment, and consumer technology. Overlaps with Rethink TV/Faultline on streaming, codecs, and video delivery forecasting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rethinkresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rethink-technology-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rethink Technology Research