Trends in telecommunications industry driving need for change

The telecommunications industry is currently facing several compelling factors necessitating change and innovation:

• Government focus on the digital sector: Across the globe, governments are paying increasing attention to the digital sector as a potential driver of economic growth and employment (source). The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend, with many aspects of daily life transitioning online, necessitating robust and reliable digital infrastructure.

• Public sector digital strategies: Governments and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have been developing digital strategies and plans aimed at catalyzing growth in the digital sector (source, source). Often these strategies include measures to improve the quality of digital services within specific regions or countries. Over time, these strategies may manifest as regulations influencing how the telecommunications industry operates.

• Increasing standards of connectivity: In many regions, governments and IGOs have implemented enforceable legal directives to ensure a minimum standard of internet service is accessible to all end users. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines or even license suspensions (source, source). This trend suggests that the industry's standards and expectations are escalating, requiring further investment in infrastructure (source, source).

• Challenger business models: As some observers question whether the traditional internet infrastructure can provide truly global connectivity, new businesses and projects are emerging that operate outside the typical framework. WorldMobile provides one example while community networks are another (source). These challenger entities may drive change and innovation within the industry by introducing novel approaches to connectivity.