The carriers have "delusional flailing strategies" because they really are delusional and flailing, at least in the parts of the organisations that are capable

The carriers have "delusional flailing strategies" because they really are delusional and flailing, at least in the parts of the organisations that are capable to driving structural change. The cost structures, swivel-chair automation, arthritic processes, lack of an ability to rationalise their portfolios (many decision-makers on the infrastructure side don't even know what a portfolio is, let alone what rationalisation means, and why this might just help) lead them to panic every time people start cutting their cords (first copper, but soon anything that can be replaced by OTT services) and that is visible to their investors. As someone (occasionally) on the inside, they are irrational, they are flailing, and yet they have no real sense of urgency as their escape paths from likely commoditisation are colonised by nimbler players. [edit: I read the phrase "delusional flailing" as "delusional failing", but the essence is similar enough]