If the dominant provider in the region stumbles financially, he said, the impact would be felt throughout the network.

The public sector is the dominant provider of employment opportunities.

Google, which had a widely watched public stock offering last month, is still the dominant provider of search results with approximately 250 million daily searches.

Microsoft's greatest strength is its enormous resources as the dominant provider of computer operating systems.

China Mobile, the dominant cellular provider, has 40 million subscribers and is the world's second-largest carrier.

Such a deal would position the combined company to become a dominant provider of telephone services to business customers around the world.

The California company is the dominant provider of "paid search" services, the key word being "paid."

At first the company faced competitors in several states, but over time it has cemented its position as the dominant provider.

Telstra is Australia's dominant and largest provider of fixed line services.

"I don't think we'll ever see a return to a situation where they're the dominant providers," he said, "but there will always be a place for them."