The telecommunications industry is constantly changing. Advances in technology, changes in society, and an always fascinating relationship with personal privacy and the law mean that the industry simply cannot stand still. Here are five fascinating ways in which the telecommunications industry is advancing. This is a brief guide. All of the topics on this list have been featured in countless articles and papers.
5G
The introduction of 5G is perhaps the largest capability upgrade attempted in the telecommunications industry in the past decade. 5G services feature lower latency, higher capacity, and increased bandwidth in comparison to 4G and 3G services. In theory, this means that the internet will be just as available to mobile users as it is to desktop users. Users will be ‘untethered’ from their desktop devices. Some analysts predict that this could completely upend the way people work and communicate.
Telephone Answering Services
Until recently, businesses have spent a great deal of money hiring staff who spend most of their time answering the phone. In recent years, third-party telephone answering services have sprung up – allowing companies to better utilize their staff and leave the phone answering to somebody else.
Satellite Telecommunications
Satellite communications have been around for a while. In fact, some of the first satellites ever launched were primarily telecommunications devices. In the modern era, satellites are being used to give mobile wireless internet access to people in remote or cut-off places. As the war in Ukraine rages, communication networks across the country have been cut off. Satellite-based internet provider Starlink has stepped in to provide Ukrainians with internet that is very hard to cut out, even during times of great disruption. In theory, this technology could be used to provide telecommunications access to people in remote parts of the world – although it will have to be achieved at a loss for providers unless it is funded by NGOs or governmental organizations.
The Phone As A Server
Modern mobile devices are extremely powerful. This means that, in theory, they can be used as a central server enabling devices connected via an ‘Internet Of Things’ to operate with minimal computing power of their own. Coupled with access to 5G internet, this can mean that mobile telephones become the lynchpin in a personal communication network, including smartwatches, implants, and all sorts of other connected devices.
Internet Of Things
The concept of an ‘Internet Of Things’ will be all too familiar to people who have worked in the telecommunications industry. The key idea behind telecommunication IoT implementation is automated communication.
Phones, smartwatches, home entertainment systems, and cloud servers can all be programmed to intelligently communicate with each other automatically – drastically upgrading their capabilities by essentially joining forces and allowing users to access pretty much all of the technological capabilities available to them without having to use multiple devices. The telecommunications industry – which already has a huge stake in mobile technology – is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the Internet of Things.