Ovum and Informa Telecoms and Media Research, both divisions of Informa plc, have announced their intention to combine under the Ovum brand, to create the world’s largest telecoms industry research firm.

The new company, which will also be the fourth-largest technology analyst house globally, will offer customers unrivalled analysis across the converging IT, media and telecoms industries, and including a suite of new research, market data and consulting capabilities.

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A multi-million pound investment programme will see all complementary product portfolios merged delivering 23 new or improved services across IT, media and telecoms, including the world’s most comprehensive telecoms research.

IT and media research will also be significantly bolstered through the introduction of new channels covering telco IT, customer engagement, enterprise mobility, telco enterprise services, digital media and music. A new state-of-the-art online delivery platform to house all research will also be launched.

The merged business, which will be fully integrated by the end of May, will be led by Steve Hotham, current MD of Ovum, who will become its CEO. Spread across 23 offices, in 6 continents, Ovum will employ 275 staff, including 180 analysts providing a combination of global and local insight.

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Steve Hotham believes this move will meet the growing need for actionable market insight by vendors, service providers and enterprises in the converging technology and media markets better than any other research firm.

'We are experiencing a time of tremendous change in the telecoms, IT and media sectors, with convergence reshaping markets and creating major new business opportunities and challenges.

Our customers need a research firm with deep insight into each of these markets that can provide a singular, inter-connected view on industry transformation, future trends and the impact on their businesses. By combining Ovum and ITM Research, we are assembling a unique team of readily accessible analysts, offering a comprehensive portfolio of research, data products and consulting services across telecoms, media and IT.'

Steve Hotham will be supported by a senior management team drawn from both the merging organisations.