The telecom industry has proven to be crucial to all our lives and the increasing demand for high-speed broadband infrastructure has pushed operators to innovate and adapt quickly. Fiber broadband and 5G provide high-speed internet for data-intensive activities, such as video conferencing, gaming and streaming, in the home and on-the-go.
The industry has made considerable progress in developing the necessary infrastructure for universal broadband access. Operators are now using digital models to capture their network assets for better tracking and management. With the internet being essential to daily life and business, operators are evolving to meet new market demands and seize lucrative revenue opportunities.
As technology advances, the rapid rollout of fiber broadband is becoming increasingly important to meet demand. However, in the US, only 43% of households have access to fiber broadband. Similarly, 5G coverage only reaches 53 percent of the country. Accelerating the rollout of fiber broadband is essential for capturing untapped market share and boosting revenue.
Additionally, businesses can benefit from the integration of diverse data streams using creative strategies. For example, operators need to ensure network resilience in the face of weather-related disasters, which cost the US over $29 billion in 2022. Network resilience leads to greater network dependability, which reduces customer churn and ensures operators reach their long-term revenue targets.
With this ever-increasing pace, now is the perfect time to implement a velocity focused business strategy to capture the market potential. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shift towards remote and hybrid working models, creating increased demand for high-speed connectivity in rural areas. Policymakers have responded with initiatives such as the US government's $45 billion "Internet for All" program and the EU's efforts to reduce the costs of rural internet service provision. This presents a window of opportunity for operators with the vision to execute rapid rollout plans.
Velocity problem-solving and rollout
While new technology and innovation play a crucial role in providing high-speed internet to a wider audience, operators who prioritize incremental problem-solving can swiftly address current and future industry challenges.
With high demand, the appropriate technology, and government support, the time for action is now and the opportunity is vast. There are three ways telecom operators can use velocity to shift from concept to implementation:
Progress versus radical transformation
It's easy to think of technological transformation as a "big bang" approach – a massive breakthrough that brings sudden and significant change. However, when velocity is the goal, this approach is risky and can take longer to deliver results. Operators must wait for technology to be perfected, with no guarantee of success. Waiting for a huge project to deliver is costly, inflexible, and often results in limited benefits.
Instead, operators should focus on high velocity, rapid turnaround projects that address smaller issues. By tackling these smaller problems, short-term results can be achieved with greater agility, reducing risk to the business and delivering a consistent stream of measurable benefits, which justifies future innovation and creates a positive cycle of investment and business improvement.
This incremental approach starts by finding a specific area of the business experiencing the greatest pain point and implementing a smart, targeted solution. For example, operators experiencing inefficiency with large scale construction contractors can develop new mobile solutions improving communication and coordination. As efficiency is improved, the solution can be adapted and quickly deployed to other areas of the business facing similar challenges such as service activation or business as usual (BAU) construction, incrementally improving the entire lifecycle of the network.
Developing a skilled workforce
Creating a motivated and empowered workforce is essential to the success of any business, including the telecom industry. Even the most advanced technology and strategies will fail if they are not centered on the needs and capabilities of the workforce. To achieve operational velocity, employees must have the necessary tools and authority to drive progress at their desk in the office or while working in the field.
By focusing on the workforce, organizations can achieve greater results. Employees buying in to new methods and solutions is crucial, as they will be the ones utilizing technology. Operators should involve employees from the start of the evaluation process, listen to their on-the-job experiences, and ensure they have a thorough understanding of how to use new technology effectively.
Investing in new talent will also help the future of the workforce. A study by McKinsey found that 87% of organizations are currently experiencing or expect to face a skills gap in the next five years, particularly in the telecom sector. Hiring and retaining top talent is crucial for building a resilient business and giving employees state-of-the-art technology is a major incentive for potential recruits.
To do this, operators should embrace and leverage the strengths of the digital-native generation. For example, integrating data from across the business into a single shared network view caters to the strengths of Gen Z and Millennials, whether they are in the field, remote, or office based. At the same time this is breaking down information silos and democratizing data, processes, and technology in a way that empowers the entire team.
A word of caution, however, this goal is not without challenges, the bar has been raised on the usability of mobile applications. Old-school applications taking desktop concepts to the field will be resoundingly rejected.
Finding operator inspiration
One effective example of a company utilizing velocity deployment is Brightspeed, which developed a strategic approach for their ambitious fiber network buildout plans, resulting in a connected and accelerated planning and construction process.
Brightspeed implemented a range of fiber-based Optical Distribution Network technologies, along with integrated software, to increase efficiency and speed up deployment. Their more rural service territory allowed a distributed tap product solution instead of a more traditional centralized split design, they were able to rapidly and cost effectively expand their fiber optics network.
Through this approach, Brightspeed expects to reach over three million homes and businesses in the next five years, including areas where fiber has not yet been deployed, allowing them to capitalize on a growing market.
Brightspeed's success can be attributed to their ability to question traditional practices, identify specific issues in their business and mobilize a skilled workforce to implement a new solution. By following them, other operators can take advantage of rapid industry growth with high-velocity deployments.
Jay Cadman is the SVP, IQGeo.