Going into 2023, telcos everywhere can be proud of their collective resilience over the last few years.
Between price increases, supply chain issues and geopolitical tensions, recent events have caused telcos of all shapes and sizes to stand back and examine their strategies as they navigate the ever-changing landscapes of technology and communications.
And with a new year comes a new set of challenges. From where we’re standing, 2023 will likely continue to be defined by change — something the telecommunications industry certainly isn’t exempt from.
Though there’s no way to predict exactly what will unfold for telcos this year, there are a few trends and changes we expect to see in the coming months…
Private 5G
Will 2023 be the year private 5G finally goes mainstream?
Mobile subscribers can already get 5G access in major areas depending on the provider. But private 5G networks will take things one step further, designed to enable enterprises to control their destiny regarding partners, features and connectivity.
Thanks to private 5G networks, businesses and consumers alike may finally have it all: complete indoor and outdoor coverage with a high degree of security (making them a good choice for large institutions and companies), ultra-reliability, low latency and reduced energy usage.
Pretty good, right? Still, there’s one thing to keep in mind as we embrace 5G connectivity: cyber crime…
Cyber security
Cyber security has always been a concern for telcos. But as our national telecommunications networks expand to facilitate 5G and more businesses migrate from traditional phone systems to alternative cloud-based services in preparation for the ISDN switch-off, concerns over cyber security are only getting more serious.
From the growing risk of cloud threats leading to misconfiguration to the potential for hackers to access sensitive information being shared between internet of things (IoT) devices via private networks, telcos will have their work cut out to stay ahead of the problem this year.
And the issue of telco fraud shows no signs of slowing down in 2023, either…
Of course, phone scamming isn’t a new phenomenon. But with a steady 34% increase in digital phone call scams since last June — voice phishing (vishing) and voice over IP (VoIP) scams in particular — it’s more important than ever for businesses to invest in automated solutions that can accurately detect and report caller fraud.
Energy efficiency
Did you know that the energy costs of running the world’s mobile networks have reached $25 billion (£20 billion) annually due to ongoing crises and inflation? Yikes.
It’s time to take a new approach. To reduce their energy consumption, telcos need to modernise their existing networks and maximise their traffic performance through tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation.
Doing so is crucial to minimising energy costs and lowering carbon footprints — without compromising user experience.
Metaverse
The metaverse — a shared, immersive 3D virtual space — is one of the biggest trends in the telecoms industry. So, how will it impact telcos this year?
Virtual reality (VR) has been used for ages in online gaming. Now, it’s reaching new realms — planting roots in many industries and businesses, allowing them to create true-to-life simulations in risk-free, cost-effective ways for training, data visualisation, manufacturing and more.
Great… except VR metaverse users require around five to 40 times more data than it takes to stream a video (that’s quite a lot).
As a result, telcos will have to invest in the ultra-fast fibre connectivity and cloud computing infrastructure needed to meet the low-latency requirements of the metaverse.
Cloud computing
Remote working may have kicked things off for cloud computing, but the global hyperscale cloud market will drive things forward in 2023 (and beyond).
Hyperscale computing is an agile method used to process data, with hyperscale architecture able to scale up or down depending on data traffic.
With the adoption of 5G, IoT devices, edge computing, video streaming apps and a need for more data storage, ‘hyperscalers’ like Google, Facebook and Amazon have taken this computing method and applied it to data centres and the cloud to accommodate fluctuating demand.
So, now that these big companies are trying to dominate the public cloud and cloud services industries, it might be time to look at your cloud connectivity offerings to ensure you’re keeping up with the competition.
Weathering the storm
Although there’s no way of knowing how events will unfold this year, one thing’s for sure: things could get challenging.
So, now’s the time to get your ducks in a row, streamline your finances and boost productivity to put your business in the best position to adapt.
One of the first steps in this process is identifying what functions could be outsourced to save time and money — including managed services, such as help desk and product support, technology consulting, operational services and much (much) more.
Without adding a single person to your payroll, managed telco services can help fill any technical skills, knowledge or headcount gaps to ensure your business runs as smoothly as possible — even during busy periods, such as the summer and bank holidays.
When Invosys provides these specialist services, we’re not just a voice at the end of the phone — we offer a white-labelled service, remote local support and hands-on maintenance. And when we supply our industry-leading Invosys Number Manager platform, we provide in-depth training and 24/7 telecom support.
Plus, because of our vast portfolio of products, you can bundle products and services together to maximise your offerings and available profit margins. Win-win!
Are you ready to revolutionise your business?
No matter how unpredictable the telco industry may be in 2023, Invosys is your sure and steady solution, offering businesses a one-stop shop for all things telecommunications. Contact our team at 0161 444 3333 or email sales@invosys.com for any questions.
