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It is telecommunication week, and it is time to explore how telecom advancements influence critical infrastructure alongside the expected trends in 2023.
Key takeaways- Critical infrastructure is essential for the everyday functioning of society, providing the vital services, resources, and systems that enable people to go about their daily lives.
- Quality telecom services enable critical manufacturing efforts to manage inventory in real time and facilitate remote support capabilities.
- Advancements in connectivity-enhancing technologies such as 5G and fiber optic networks have made high-speed internet available for all operations in different aspects of life
- By the end of 2023, at least 200 mobile network operators are expected to have invested in 5G standalone networks, double the figure from last year.
What is critical infrastructure?
Critical infrastructure is made up of the essential systems and assets that are crucial for society and the economy to function properly. This includes a wide range of elements such as:- Power grids
- Transportation networks
- Water and wastewater systems
- Communication systems
- Food production
- Distribution networks
- Hospitals
- Emergency services
- Banking and financial institutions
- Government institutions
- Telecommunication companies
1. The rise of 5G networks and its impact on the economy
With telecommunication companies' widespread adoption of fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, it's hard to ignore their immense economic implications. These networks offer:- Faster data transfer speeds
- Increased bandwidth
- Lower latency for telecommunication customers.
2. The rise in rural telecoms
2023 is an exciting time for the world of telecommunications and critical infrastructure. Today, most urban cities have access to reliable and secure networks, so efforts have shifted towards rural areas. Efforts are made to bring safe and increased wireless communication access across all regions, including rural areas. Moreover, with the advent of 5G networks, smartphones with increased connectivity are becoming common, allowing people to take advantage of data computing capabilities on the go. In a recent study, The Ohio State University found that farmers are willing to pay up to $30 per acre for reliable high-speed broadband coverage, highlighting the genuine need for improved telecom services from rural customers. Private networks are also crucial in granting access to these services, especially in far-flung areas.3. AI-driven services and machine learning
Telecommunication companies are leading us into a new era of technological wonders. For instance, as they continue to develop new and innovative ways to keep customers connected, AI-driven services and machine learning are becoming the norm. One exciting development is the emergence of virtual network assistants. These platforms can monitor user activities, detect abnormal behaviors, identify threats, and instantly issue notifications, making them valuable customer assets. As telecommunication technology evolves and becomes more sophisticated, machine learning algorithms will play an increasingly important role in protecting critical infrastructure from malicious attacks. It's reassuring to see the telecommunication industry showing what the future has in store—an era where telecom advancements transform lives and digital security is paramount.3. Skyrocketing datasphere
Due to the rise of cloud services and the ever-increasing number of internet-connected devices, there’s a significant shift in data distribution known as the datasphere. This trend is transforming how data is shared and accessed around the world. Businesses are rapidly adopting cloud-based data storage solutions, which is expected to result in a surge in the datasphere. This provides telecom companies with a fantastic opportunity to provide reliable and fast data services. Furthermore, the increasing use of IoT technology means there will be exponential growth in daily generated data—another chance for telecommunications firms to leverage this influx of new information. According to the IDC, the datasphere was 64 zettabytes in 2020 and is expected to keep rising. This presents a unique challenge for telecommunications companies, who must now be prepared to manage enormous volumes of data traffic while investing in infrastructure upgrades. Telecom providers should focus on big data analytics and cloud-based services to minimize the amount of data processing locally. This will free up much-needed resources, helping businesses to maximize their efficiency.The Telecom industry provides an "enabling function" across all critical infrastructure sectors.
The telecommunications industry is vital today by supporting critical infrastructure across various industries. For instance, in the chemical sector, telecom companies help build and maintain essential communication networks needed for safety procedures. In addition, quality telecom services enable critical manufacturing efforts to manage inventory in real-time and facilitate remote support capabilities. The significance of telecommunications extends to countless other industries, such as:- Critical manufacturing
- Defense industrial base
- Emergency service
- Energy sector
- Financial services
- Food and Agriculture
- Government facilities
- Healthcare and public health sector
