Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality are no longer the realms of fiction. They are the present and the future. As we surge forward into a new decade, the telecom industry is experiencing unprecedented technology-driven growth and transformation.
Today, telecommunications has evolved to facilitate communication through computers, cloud-based technology, and similar other advanced IT technologies that were unimaginable even a decade ago. People no longer need to be in the office to connect with their teammates, VoIP systems can be integrated with an app to make connections quicker! Thus, enabling a tech-savvy ecosystem that facilitates improved employee experience and higher productivity for a business.
We live in times where advancements in information technology and communications have given birth to so many futuristic technologies, that businesses rely on their integration for seamless operations.
To understand the evolution of telecom, let us take a glance at the role of IT in the telecom industry.ls alone. It is a core commitment that permeates from the long-term vision of the company to every individual across the hierarchy.
Role of IT in the Telecom Industry
1. Cloud Computing
Cloud networking inherently simplifies and speeds up networking functionalities through the use of virtual routers, bridges, and adapters. Telecoms are leveraging this property of cloud computing to create Virtualized Radio Access Networks (vRAN) facilitating agility, flexibility, and efficiency in mobile networks.
Similarly, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) distributes resources to boost latency-sensitive applications bringing the cloud close to the end-user. Strategic use of such functionalities, enable cloud providers, in partnership with telecoms, to add value for end-users at low costs and enhance their revenue.
Indeed, the role of IT in enabling telecommunication-enabled providers to recover quickly from the COVID shock and deliver service with near-zero latency is notable. The telecom industry rose to the challenge, facilitating remote work, continued education, healthcare, and monitoring with the help of cloud-enabled agility, accessibility, resilience, and speed.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Three out of four business executives believe that AI will drive efficiency in the future says Harvard Business Review (HBR). Innovative and forward-facing providers are already pairing AI with ML and other emerging technologies to improve learning, optimize performance, and enhance consumer satisfaction. The role of IT-based services like data science and analytics, in the telecom industry, is what brings services like customized UX and predictive maintenance to end-users.
AI is processing large volumes of historical data at unimaginable speed. Thus, speeding up customer servicing like never before. Cambio Health Care’s CDS (Clinical Decision System) warns physicians of impending strokes. Twitter’s NLP-supported AI identifies and reports the use of hate speech and foul or suspicious language.
Not only is AI solving problems it is also educating humans. Virtual assistants are learning fast and offering better service to humans. They’re routing customer queries to service agents and supporting agents by presenting data quickly in easily digestible formats.
3. Natural Language Processing (NLP)
For every minute a customer waits to resolve their problem, the Consumer Service Index (CSI) takes a dive. Walmart resolved this issue with the help of NLP powered by telecom services. Their bot now resolves up to 90% of consumer queries.
Of course, a lot depends upon proper training. However, the fact remains that paired with AI and ML, NLP can facilitate communication and take a load off the telecom industry consumer service agents.
Nokia introduced MIKA (Multi-purpose Intelligent Knowledge Assistant) in 2017 to provide quick resolutions to common consumer issues. The use of Siri and Alexa is rampant. In 2018, WhatsApp brought NLP to the masses by introducing its business API.
Telecom industry leaders are now experimenting with NLP to resolve other consumer pain points and drive revenue. A telecom company interested in reducing their churn rate in a specific region may, for example, use NLP to read and understand consumer pain points and resolve them.
Through such strategic use of AI, ML, and NLP, the telecommunications industry is widening the scope of VAs to automate processes like updates and payments. Thus, delivering a seamless user experience that can add great value for their consumers.
4. Immersive Technology
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), collectively called immersive technologies have the potential to transform telecom business processes like maintenance, research, training, and asset management.
Immersive technology can also aid in enhancing deliverables by speeding up processes, reducing costs, and providing a seamless UX to end-users. Already businesses are experimenting with voice-assisted bill payments and training using virtual ecosystems.
The gaming industry is the biggest consumer of telecom-powered immersive technologies. In March 2022, Verizon unveiled its new Adventure game that uses 3D holograms to provide immersive experiences to users in partnership with Novelab. The game provides players with an unbelievable immersive experience says Verizon.
Similarly, SK Telecom has launched ifland, a metaverse that offers immersive social networking.
5. IoT
At the most basic level, IoT can be utilized to provide better connectivity, track assets, and predictive maintenance. By pairing cloud computing with IoT, telecoms can facilitate instantaneous data collection, analysis, and transmission of insights to industry-specific applications. Telecoms can also offer their consumers a range of specifically developed tools on cloud IoT platforms on SaaS or PaaS clouds.
Statista predicts that 30.9 billion IoT devices will be in use by 2025 and telecoms are capitalizing on this. From smart homes to smart cities, delivering utilities like power and water, manufacturing, logistics, security, and agriculture, the telecom industry is poised to leverage IoT to provide its users with enhanced functionalities and value.
AT&T – the American telecom conglomerate, reduced consumption of energy using an IoT-Enabled Building Energy Management system that monitors the performance of equipment and sends alerts for mal-performance. Telefónica, a Spanish telecom company deploys over 2.5 million communication lines across the country using IoT.
6. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
RPA can help the telecom industry in the areas of data sharing, network automation, security, compliance, and innovation to name a few. As already mentioned, the metaverse is gaining traction and RPA is being leveraged to create avatars and holographs that mirror human action in the virtual world.
RPA can also sort through humongous volumes of big data presenting it in a clean and easily digestible format for analysis and insights. With the help of RPA, AI can make faster and better predictions and voice assistants like Siri and MIKA can present end-users with seamless interaction and unprecedented customizations.
10XDS – the Indian Digital Transformation company, for example, has automated the quality check process for SIM card requests. The BOT now logs into the internal system to verify customer information and accepts or rejects the request.
7. 5G
5G is 20 times the speed of its predecessor 4G and it can connect up to a million devices within a square kilometer as against merely 100,000 with 4G, says Bytestart.
Waymo the self-driving car still uses local computation for safety but Dmitri Dolgov, the CTO of the company says 5G will be a boon for decision-making in traffic which requires real-time communication.
O2 in partnership with TRL has launched a project to manufacture self-driven cars. So thanks to the role of IT in telecommunications self-driven cars may soon be history and technology may disrupt industry ecosystems yet again.
On another front, Cisco and Verizon have joined hands to deliver new capabilities to stadiums that will reduce crowds by estimating and communicating waiting times at gates, stalls, and restrooms. Verizon is also working with 5G-enabled drones to enable faster deliveries and support logistics.
The major goal of most IT advancements is automation and cost reduction. So, this implies that IT may also play a big role in optimizing costs in the telecommunications industry. Let’s find out.
Has IT helped the telecom industry in reducing costs?ss-Functional Capacities
Yes, the role of IT has resulted in a working environment where machine processes are quick and hassle-free. The adoption of several IT innovations by the telecom industry has resulted in the automation of processes and reduction of cost of operations. How? For example:
1. RPA
Owing to the reduction in manual effort and work through the integration of RPA in telecom, the chances of making an error and resultant losses have also decreased.
2. Network sharing
The telecom industry can manage the cost of operations by adopting network sharing. This technology enables sharing of data over a network so that the documents and files are made available to multiple users at the same time.
3. MVNO
A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a telecommunication service provider that offers wireless telecommunication to consumers. An MVNO does not own the wireless service network but leases wireless capacity from a third-party mobile network operator at wholesale prices and provides it to consumers at a subsidized price. MVNOs use the carrier network and, thus, provide good quality wireless facility.
Future Trends for Telecom
The role of IT in communication is set to expand. In 2020, the telecom industry market size was 25.33 billion USD and Mordor predicts it will touch nearly 75 billion USD during the next four years.
The industry is poised to disrupt almost every other industry landscape including its own. Telecommunication and information technology will take the lead in the adoption and facilitation of next-gen technologies.
Admittedly, the costs are high but history is witness, that by channelizing savings from reduced expenses and CAPEX into innovation, large businesses can fund investments. With shared cloud platforms supporting RPA, AI, and other technologies, even small and medium businesses can benefit.
Admittedly, the costs are high but history is witness, that by channelizing savings from reduced expenses and CAPEX into innovation, large businesses can fund investments. With shared cloud platforms supporting RPA, AI, and other technologies, even small and medium businesses can benefit.
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The world is poised to deal with intelligent machines that can communicate not just with humans but also with other machines. The processes of the future will be intelligent, holistic, speedier, and more agile through the use of technologies that support speedy, accurate, and safe data sharing. And the role of IT in the telecom industry lies at the core of it all.
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