Rising Heights: Delving into the Latest Innovations in Telecom Tower Development

By B Viswanathan

The telecom industry in India underwent a radical makeover in 2023, marked by noteworthy breakthroughs and calculated moves to bolster the digital economy. The development of environmentally friendly telecom networks, the integration and growth of 5G, and an increased emphasis on cybersecurity and resilience are all noteworthy developments. The telecom business has undergone tremendous change as a result of these advances. According to a report released by Mordor Intelligence, the market value of the Indian telecom industry is expected to reach $76.16 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 9.40% over the course of the projection period, from $48.61 billion in 2024.

The government has been instrumental in driving the expansion of the telecom sector by introducing important initiatives. Of particular importance to the government’s attempts to strengthen India’s telecom infrastructure are the Draft Telecommunications Bill 2022 and the GatiShakti Sanchar Portal. Given the rapid advancements and cooperative efforts of the government, it is logical to anticipate that the telecommunications sector will undergo additional innovations, propelling the economy into a comprehensive digital transformation.

Here is a look at the latest developments that have revolutionized the telecom infrastructure:

Rise and extension of 5G: The introduction of 5G technology has truly changed the game in the highly linked world of today. 5G has brought about a new era of opportunities for sectors like healthcare, transportation, and retail by providing higher data rates, lower latency, and increased connectivity. By 2025, 5G networks should have over 1.1 billion users worldwide, according to the GSM Association. Customers are looking for more creative solutions as a result of their growing demand for improved connectivity, which suggests that 6G will soon be developed. Even though the deployment of fifth-generation telecommunications infrastructure is anticipated to significantly increase and improve connectivity, the shift to sixth-generation infrastructure is anticipated to intensify this revolutionary movement and influence how communication and connectivity are shaped in the future.

Move to edge computing: To expedite data processing, decentralized edge computing platforms have largely supplanted centralized cloud storage in recent years. Increased need for Internet of Things (IoT) data processing has made relying only on centralized cloud platforms insufficient because of the high latency requirements. The importance of edge computing is highlighted by this. Due to edge computing’s capacity to enable real-time data processing across dispersed data centers, greater bandwidth and extremely low latency connections are now guaranteed, giving organizations more control over data flow. Instantaneous data processing is now possible thanks to the integration of this technology, which opens up a wide range of applications in industry. The rapid growth of 5G networks has led to a rise in the use of edge orchestration, which is enabled by edge cloud and mobile edge computing and ensures seamless integration and effective use of resources.

Networks for green telecoms: The telecom sector has shifted its attention to reducing its carbon footprints in response to growing conservation concerns. Utilizing the potential of AI and machine learning, telecom firms are concentrating more on energy optimization and the adoption of sustainable supply chain strategies. The telecom industry is embracing the circular economy and minimizing carbon dioxide emissions by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, and equipment and material reuse. According to a research released by the GSMA, “5G network providers are striving to reduce their carbon footprint by 44% of global telecom revenue over the next decade, committing to a mobile net-zero path by 2050.” Telecom companies will use low-impact data centers and renewable energy sources in addition to energy-efficient technologies in the future to lessen their environmental effect.

Telecom sector: Future prospects

By 2024, the telecom industry will have undergone a radical transformation. The dynamics of communication, connectivity, and business operations will change as a result of the widespread deployment of 5G networks, the seamless integration of edge computing, and the increasing significance of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, it is projected that critical components like network slicing, cybersecurity safeguards, and sustainability programs would have a significant impact on the complex telecom environment.

(The author is B Viswanathan – Chief Executive Officer- HCIN Networks Private Limited, and the views expressed in this article are his own)