MORRISTOWN, NJ, May 5, 2009 – TM Forum, the world's premier industry group focused on business effectiveness for the communications and media sectors, today announced results for the financial year ending March 31, 2009. For the fifth consecutive year, the international not-for-profit organization has achieved revenue and membership growth of more than 25%. The results show an organization well placed to weather the current global recession, and reinforce the Forum’s leading position in helping its global membership tackle the effects of the economic crisis.

TM Forum exists to help its 737 member companies – which include service providers and suppliers in the telecom, mobile, cable, defense and media sectors across 185 countries – by providing leadership, guidance and practical solutions that improve their business effectiveness.

In the current economic climate as service providers seek to reduce operating costs, the Forum’s extensive set of best practices and standards provide a stable, low-risk roadmap for cost-base transformation. In addition, the Forum is leading the way for delivery and monetization of new services, exploring new business models and opportunities with partners in an extended value-chain of content and media players.

According to Keith Willetts, chairman and CEO, TM Forum, “Very few of the countries where TM Forum has active members have escaped the effects of the global financial crisis. For a long time we have been saying that – sooner or later- service providers everywhere will need to radically change the way they do business or their cost base will sink them.  The global downturn has brought this line of thinking into very sharp focus.”

The Forum’s flagship Management World conference being held this week in Nice, France, will tackle these key issues head on. The conference – which has proven itself as the communication industry’s conference of choice for 2009 – exposes the value of the Forum’s best practices and standards through more than 100 service provider led presentations and case studies. “Moving onwards through 2009, the Forum is well placed to help its members triumph in these difficult times,” added Willetts.