How to strengthen the telecom sector to support the remote workforce

1. How to Strengthen the Telecom Sector to Support the Remote Workforce

2. Introduction “The telecom industry reaches into every corner of our economies, societies, and private lives, and it is one of the greatest drivers of economic growth and human equality the world has ever seen.” This quote from BörjeEkholm, CEO of Ericsson Group, aptly summarizes the grave need & criticality of a well-functioning telecommunications industry. When employees across the world are working remotely, educational institutions are conducting classes online, and the global population is practicing social distancing amidst strict lockdowns, resilient network plays a pivotal role in ensuring that everything flows smoothly. The surging demand for networking infrastructure & connectivity could put a heavy strain on the system. As the number of voice calls & network usage increase exponentially, network reliability & resilience become the key focus of the telcos & Communications Services Providers (CSPs).  The ability of telecom companies to serve unfailingly may have a strong impact on how their consumers perceive their network services after everything ‘normalizes’, which is why it is essential for the CSPs to expand their capabilities & address the immediate demand with maximum efficacy. Although it is true that the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in some major shifts in the priorities for each sector, it definitely has positioned the communications industry as critical as the utilities. As Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC Commissioner puts it, “If it wasn’t clear before this crisis, it is crystal clear now that broadband is a necessity for every aspect of modern civic and commercial life.” 

3. What potential issues will the telecom sector face in its fight against COVID-19? • The relevance and importance of telecom has never been clearer. When everything is shut down, CSPs are keeping the world up and running by connecting families, friends, & businesses. Although the sector is putting up a strong fight against the global crisis, it may have to face a slew of challenges such as: • Increased security and infrastructure risks for both customers as well as telecom companies due to the remote workforce • Delayed manufacturing & delivery of network equipment • Degraded service quality as a result of the excessive demand • Postponement of next-gen network technology services such as 5G & fiber network builds • The way telecom companies will respond to the crisis and address these challenges will determine whether their growth will boost or dive after the situation gets under control.

4. PwC suggests the following steps for the telecom service providers to resolve these challenges: • A proactive, data-driven crisis response to shape stakeholder attitudes far into the future  • Review of items such as insurance coverage, systems capabilities for remote workers, and cyber readiness.  • Continued delivery of critical national infrastructure and fulfilment of customer priorities around maintenance and confidence.  • Prioritization of cyber safe remote technology capabilities to transition workers to remote work while maintaining productivity.   • Monitoring remote call centre effectiveness via a command centre and adjusting the support model as necessary.  • Read Full Blog at: https://www.cigniti.com/blog/telecommunications-remote-working-software-testing/