Independent research, consulting and expert testimony

WiseHarbor is an independent consulting and research firm focused on commercial, financial and economic issues throughout the ICT sector. We use the term ICT broadly to encompass communications networks, software, cloud computing, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, devices, intellectual property and related technologies.

WiseHarbor’s strengths and its distinction are its multi-disciplined capabilities combining expertise in technologies, economics and finance with deep industry and domain (e.g. patent licensing) knowledge. We help clients evaluate investments, assess competitive positioning, understand market developments opportunities and threats, commercialize technology assets and protect their position in disputes.

WiseHarbor and its clients are selective about our assignments. Clients engage us for independent judgement, absence of interest conflict, for rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis, and the ability to explain complex market and technology issues clearly and persuasively. We do this internally and with legal counsel, and externally to the courts and in public communications.

With decades of experience, WiseHarbor has accumulated uncommonly extensive knowledge of the layering, business models and interdependencies across the ICT ecosystem. In mobile communications, for example, commercial outcomes depend on relationships among chip, device and equipment suppliers, mobile network operators, wholesale MVNAs, retail MVNOs, MNVE infrastructure providers, tower colocation companies, software providers, patent licensors and end users.  We have worked with them all and have reviewed their contractual arrangements comprehensively, for example, through discovery in litigation including supply contracts, master lease and patent licensing agreements.

Over the last three decades, ICT markets have evolved beyond traditional computing and terrestrial communications to encompass Internet software platform businesses such as Alphabet and Meta, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data center and increasingly important satellite-based connectivity.

While technologies change, many of the same underlying commercial questions persist:

• Where and how is value created?
• Who is capturing that value?
• How is strategic or tactical advantage being obtained?
• Can investors recover capital and earn satisfactory returns?
• How should technology assets and intellectual property be valued?
• How is intellectual property value shared, including through open source and monetized licensing?
• How do regulation, competition and market structure affect outcomes?

These questions continue to shape WiseHarbor’s research publications, consulting and expert testimony today.