This paper reviews corporate strategies and government policies in the international telecommunications sectors of the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Countries and carriers experience different rates of growth in telecommunications revenue in their domestic markets. An analysis of market data revealed that the timing of the opening of domestic markets to competition made no difference in the rate of growth. Instead, the level of development and rate of overall economic growth were the determining factors. Trends of the international telecommunications industry are evaluated with strategic options for globalization for smaller countries and carriers.