I'm doing the reporting right now for a February cover story on the state of industry "transformation" projects, and like everywhere else, the shape of the economy keeps creeping up as an issue. The same undercurrent was there at the TM Forum show in Orlando last month.

There's absolutely no doubt that service providers will be watching capex spending closely and will be looking for ways to reduce opex spending in every way possible. That will affect service provider plans, vendor sales, and on and on.

But there's been an interesting side story worth noting that I've run into several times, particularly when looking at how providers are progressing in transforming their networks, their IT systems and their business models: If service providers can hold their own during the downturn — and though landline is shrinking, mobile and video look to be on the surge, even with the slowdown — they may be well-positioned when we come out of this thing.

Read more of "Recession reprieve?" online.