Telecoms are being transformed by technology in number of ways as we are ready to jump in next decade. Among them there are the 7 biggest technology trends that will transform telecoms in 2020 from artificial intelligence (AI) to the threat of cyber attack.
5G
5G having potentials for some dramatic changes. This opens the door for new services, network operation and customer experience for telecom operators.
5G will change telecom’s role as will not only be technology distributors, but also service providers. This shift will require telecoms to engage with governments, enterprise customers and alter their sales approach to help customers influence the power of 5G.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Telecommunications is one of the industries that use artificial intelligence in many aspects of business nowadays. They improve customer service and satisfaction with computer generated assistants through the artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence is important for the optimization and predictive maintenance of telecommunications companies’ networks. It is also hard at work detecting fake activity. Moreover, makes it possible for telecoms through predictive analytics to gather actionable business insights from the volumes of data they gather every day.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The telecom industry enables everyday items that are connected to one another and the internet through Internet of Things market. This technology helps telecoms monitor base stations and data centers remotely. Its helps in ensuring minimal downtime for the network.
Since telecom is so active in providing IoT infrastructure, the industry is self-confident to develop and offer their own services for IoT. Its results in more devices on the network there are more opportunities for security and privacy breaches to occur so telecoms need to plan and prepare defenses for that.
Big Data
It’s undeniable that telecommunications companies are collecting and generating volumes of data from mobile devices and apps, wearables and more. Wireless data is expected to continue to increase through the 2020 but it will be depending on the companies that use it to their competitive advantage for surviving.
Telecommunications companies need to ensure that their networks can move extraordinary amounts of data through their network efficiently and continue to support new technologies.
Telecoms in 2020 also need to address the new security challenges that comes with new technology using in their networks.
Eventually telecoms collect the data that can be analyzed to improve customer service, determine and evaluate new products, as well as monitor and optimize the network. When evaluated and acted upon, big data can help telecoms build a stronger business.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Robotic process automation can take over tedious, rules based, high-frequency processes to complete tasks correctly. When telecoms install RPA for tasks, error rates and costs are reduced while customer service and operational efficiency are boosted.
The telecommunications industry has one of the highest adoption rates for RPA technology since introduced. It offers high levels of scalability and agility for telecoms and can take over many tasks such as report generation, responding to customer questions, order processing, price tracking and more.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is known as pay-per-use service model that helps telecoms introduce new services, reduce their costs and adjust to market demands more effectively.
The cloud offers economies of scale, scalability and cost effectiveness to telecoms. They can use the cloud themselves besides a cloud service provider. When telecoms adopt cloud technology and switch important business functions to the cloud, they benefit from the cloud’s efficiency.
Cyber Security and Resilience
We take for granted the services offered by telecoms companies such as phone,video calls, email and messaging until we experience an outage and realize how dependent we are on those services.
Telecoms in 2020 are increasingly a target for cyber criminals due to telecoms storing vast amounts of sensitive data on complex networks that act as gateways to other businesses and because they build and operate critical infrastructure,
From direct cyber attacks such as distributed denial of service to indirect attacks such as malware, telecoms need to protect themselves and prepare for the future of 5G and the security hurdles that will represent.
This includes having not only the right IT infrastructure in place but the talent and processes to support resiliency when attacked. Currently, there is room for improvement to the industry’s response to a cyber attack. Even false claims of attack can damage a telecom’s reputation, as well as create a considerable business impact in terms of time and money spent to respond.