Glossary of the Top Telecom Terms

by

Our world continues to become more interconnected than ever due to the innovative advancements in telecommunications. All types of industries are collaborating to deliver disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and smart homes – making it crucial for those beyond the telecom space to understand this high-tech terminology. Each of our lives are influenced by our ability to connect with others, whether you work in finance, recruiting, manufacturing, healthcare, or even agriculture. Something as simple as Wi-Fi is a tool delivered by the telecom industry that we all need to do our jobs, no matter the field. According to market analysis, the telecom industry is predicted to grow 5.4% annually between 2021 and 2028. That’s a faster growth rate than the automotive, construction, insurance, and agriculture industries! No wonder it’s been hard to keep up with the ever-changing telecom terms.

To shed some light on this industry jargon and bring you up to speed on some recent advancements, Blue Signal created a glossary of the most common and useful telecom terms. These telecom terms will help you better understand what goes into keeping us all connected – and possibly provide some knowledge to help you stand out with a future client or employer. Read on to learn about 5G, VPNs, TCP/IP, and more. For the full list of 80+ telecom terms, click the link below to download our guide.

Top 20 Telecom Terms:

  1. 3G/4G/5G: Third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation wireless capabilities that allow for faster and broader access to information and services via mobile devices.
  2. Bandwidth: The range of frequencies in a communication channel. Analog communications measure bandwidth in Hertz, whereas digital communications use bits per second (bps).
  3. Broadband: A high-capacity transmission technique that allows for the communication of a large amount of information over a wide range of frequencies.
  4. Carrier: Vendor of transmission services operating under terms defined by the FCC as a common carrier. Owns a transmission medium and rents, leases, or sells portions for a set tariff to the public via shared circuits. (AT&T, Sprint, MCI, Ameritech, etc.)
  5. Fiber Optic Cable: Glass strands used to transmit light signals for cell phone and Internet connections. These cables allow for connection speeds 10 to 100 times faster than copper wire.
  6. Firewall: A barrier device placed between two separate networks. A firewall can be implemented in a single router that filters out unwanted packets or it can use a variety of technologies in a combination of routers and hosts. Today, many firewalls combine filtering functionality with Network Address Translations (NAT) functions.
  7. Gateway: A network element that performs conversions between different coding and transmission formats. The gateway does this by having many types of commonly used transmission equipment and/or circuits from different carriers to provide a means of interconnection.
  8. Local Area Network (LAN): A group of computer and peripheral devices that are connected in a limited area such as a school, laboratory, home, or office building.
  9. Network: Any connection of two or more computers that enables them to communicate. Networks may include transmission devices, servers, cables, routers, and satellites. The phone network is the total infrastructure for transmitting phone messages.
  10. Open Network Architecture (ONA): The overall design of a carrier's basic network facilities and services to permit all users of the basic network, including enhanced service providers, to interconnect to basic network functions on an unbundled and "equal access" basis.
  11. Private Branch Exchange (PBX): A private telephone exchange that serves a particular organization or business and has connections to the public telephone network. Newer PBXs have features that allow for data and video communications as well as voice.
  12. Radio Frequency (RF): A measurement representing the oscillation rate of electromagnetic radiation spectrum, or electromagnetic radio waves, from frequencies ranging from 300 GHz to as low as 9 kHz. With the use of antennas and transmitters, an RF field can be used for various types of wireless broadcasting and communications.
  13. Router: A device or setup that finds the best route between any two networks, even if there are several networks to traverse. Like bridges, remote sites can be connected using routers over dedicated or switched lines to create WANs.
  14. Small Cell: An umbrella term used to describe a miniature radio access point (AP) or wireless network base station with a low radio frequency (RF) power output, footprint, and range. They enhance cellular network coverage and capacity in areas where use demands are the highest.
  15. Switch: A mechanical or solid-state device that opens and closes circuits, changes operating parameters, or selects paths for circuits on a space or time division basis.
  16. Telecommunications: Communicating over a distance. Use of wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic channels to transmit and receive signals for voice, data, and video communications.
  17. Transmission Control Protocol/Internetworking Protocol (TCP/IP): A protocol developed to allow dissimilar devices to communicate across many kinds of networks.
  18. Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPN modules create closed secure tunnels for communication between two firewalled LANs. VPN technology is a common approach used today for providing secure communications over IP networks.
  19. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP): Telephone services provided over broadband Internet connections rather than traditional phone networks.
  20. Wide Area Network (WAN): An important computer network that is spread across a large geographical area. WAN network systems could be a connection of a LAN that connects with other LANs using telephone lines and radio waves.
Blue Signal's Glossary of Common Telecom Terms

As this global tech trend advances, the telecom industry will continue to be involved in all things that keep us connected. Impacting all different types of industries, it’s more important now than ever to stay up to speed on what these telecom terms mean.

Whether you’re trying to stay relevant in your current field, or are looking to break into a new career path, Blue Signal has the resources to help. Our recruiters are specialized in their industries and understand the importance of knowledge-share across these diverse fields. Reach out today to learn more about how you can stand out in your industry and reach your career goals.

May 2020: A COVID-19 Market Update

by

The current status of the economy is under duress, with no industry spared from the effects of COVID-19. Hiring freezes, cost-cutting, furloughs: these actions are being implemented by a multitude of companies around the globe to stay afloat. It’s undeniable that the novel Coronavirus has wrapped itself around every industry, continuing to affect all businesses from large corporations to small startups. As we navigate these uncertain times, these are the top 6 industries that have been affected by COVID-19. 

1. Health Care:

Health care is undoubtedly one of the biggest industries impacted by COVID-19. American primary health care is under examination as citizens become aware of the conditions medical professionals are working under. We have already seen an increase in telemedicine services in an effort to minimize contact with patients and slow the spread of the virus. Urgent visits are being prioritized and people are encouraged to stay away from clinics and hospitals unless they have a critical medical need. With elective procedures and initiatives being put on hold, a large portion of healthcare revenue has been reduced, leaving clinical staff on furlough or left without work. Healthcare organizations are making moves to test individuals as often as possible and work toward developing a vaccine. This pandemic has brought to light many issues that the health care system is lacking and needs to be re-evaluated to better prepare for the future. 

2. Travel & Tourism:

It’s no surprise that travel & tourism is one of the most impacted industries during this time. With strict travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, hotels and airlines have taken a drastic hit as people strive to stay indoors and stay safe. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7.7M hospitality and leisure jobs were lost in April. In an effort to stay strong and move toward reopening, many hotels and other hospitality companies have allotted discounted rates during these times. Most states are moving to open during this upcoming month, though consumers still face fears of travel while numbers of confirmed cases rise throughout the US. 

3. Telecommunications:

Telecommunication capabilities have also resulted in a reduced need for business travel, with remote connection capabilities bringing endless opportunities. Professionals are spending a lot of time in meetings, with 32% of executives and 21% of employees spending 20 hours or more in meetings each week. 

Source: App Annie

Business communication apps saw record levels of growth in March. According to statistics from mobile market data provider App Annie, enterprise-focused mobile app downloads reached over 62 Million during the week of March 14th, the highest number of downloads seen. That figure is up 90% from the pre-COVID-19 weekly download average. 

4. Retail & Restaurants:

Retail stores and restaurants have taken a big hit as people continue to self-quarantine and distance themselves from crowded spaces. Small shops as well as major chains have closed their doors, not able to keep up with the months of strain. Retailers and brands are seeking to adapt by implementing new safety precautions upon entrance. Many businesses are enforcing a “mask on” rule upon entrance and increasing their digital presence to encourage online shopping. Many people have also chosen to embrace their entrepreneurial talents, creating homemade solutions such as masks and cleaning materials to sell to those in need of supplies due to hoarding and lack of stock.

Restaurants are also facing hardships as many people choose to stock up on groceries and other supplies instead of purchasing take out. Some restaurants have opted to sell their fresh produce to bring in extra income and prevent food from being wasted. To-go promotions are flooding email inboxes as small and large eateries make efforts to bring in customers. Contactless pickup and delivery options have also increased to ease concerns of food safety. How the restaurant industry will improve is yet to be seen as businesses open with proper social distancing guidelines these coming months. 

5. Logistics & Supply Chain: 

People everywhere are turning to the web to purchase items to avoid entering stores, causing online orders to skyrocket and fulfillment facilities to pump out products at lightning speed. Many employees are being overworked, dealing with backed-up shipments, frustrated customers, and long hours. Due to hoarding and lack of supply, businesses are limiting the number of essential items able to be purchased per person. We are seeing drastic results with shortages, rationing, prioritization, and SKU reduction, allowing supply chain and logistic networks to make space for in-demand products. 

6. Finance:

Finally, one of the biggest impacted industries surrounds finance. Income for businesses and families has been severely cut, while expenses have increased due to current market conditions. Many creditors and financial institutions will experience late payments from people as citizens prioritize what is essential to fund. In turn, customers may experience damaged credit ratings or increased late fees as a result. Fortunately, most businesses are making resolutions to assist those in need, offering delayed payment options with zero penalties. Many companies are also working to contribute to organizations through relief efforts, donating resources, time, and money to help those in need.

We know that there are many businesses and industries that have been impacted and continue to struggle due to current economic situations. Despite the adverse effects of COVID-19, companies are still hiring and adopting new policies to improve business operations! These are unprecedented times, but we will get through this by staying strong, staying safe, and doing our part to help others. If you are seeking qualified candidates or a new opportunity - Blue Signal can help, connect with us today! 

 

The Telecom Awards – Blue Signal Takes First Place

by

Blue Signal was recently recognized as the Best Wireless & Telecom Workforce Recruitment Agency - USA by Corporate Vision Magazine

CV Magazine rewarded some stand-out key players in Wireless and Telecom based on their positive and impactful influence within the industry as shown over the last year. Competing against top recruiting firms across the nation, Blue Signal's expansive growth and client-centric services made us stand out among the rest. We are excited and honored to announce our achievement of the Best Wireless and Telecom Workforce Recruitment Agency award.

(You can find the article on Blue Signal from the online publication of CV Magazine here, on page 10.)

CV Magazine Telecom Awards 2019 Cover - Blue Signal

Blue Signal takes pride in our extensive network of professionals, which allows us to make superlative matches within the industry’s top companies. Blue Signal’s immense company success would not have been possible without the diligent efforts of our recruiters and supporting team members.

Blue Signal’s service offerings are designed to benefit both clients and candidates. Our focus is to move candidates forward in their career goals and provide customized, individual action plans and introductions to prospective employers. With each of our clients, Blue Signal guarantees confidential replacement searches, new launches, or high-profile openings to ensure both clients and candidates can reach their best potential.

This recognition from such a large pool of successful firms shows our clients and candidates - current and potential! - that Blue Signal appreciates the trust and opportunities our candidates place with us in their career goals. The award for Best Wireless and Telecom Workforce Recruitment Agency - US gives Blue Signal the opportunity to showcase our current achievements and future endeavors. 

Blue Signal is incredibly grateful for the support and backing we’ve received from our partners, clients, candidates and the industry as a whole. In the future, we will continue to push through industry boundaries and change the game to better serve all those involved. “We are proud of all of the hard work we’ve put into supporting our clients and candidates, and we will continue to work closely with the best talent and companies in the telecom market over the coming years.” - CEO Matt Walsh

 

More about CV Magazine

Corporate Vision is a valuable resource created for leaders and decision makers to inform and improve how professionals manage their business operations from staffing to supply chain. CV is passionate about recognizing and showcasing top industry professionals with their individually-tailed awards that provide an in-depth analysis of the very best companies of each market, region and industry. To learn more about their print and online publications, visit their site here. 

 

More about Blue Signal

Blue Signal was founded in Chicago in 2012, and since then, has grown into a multimillion-dollar executive placement firm with offices in the Phoenix and Chicago areas. Blue Signal has established itself as the premier executive search firm within wireless/telecom, technology, and related industry niches.

At Blue Signal, we believe hiring the right people is the best way to transform business. Our targeted, specialized searches deliver highly qualified professionals to meet every hiring need. Our team has decades of combined experience in finding the right people for each unique company culture and industry niche.

Our team works with both candidates and hiring managers to find the right fit. Contact us today to let us know how we can help. 

Benefits of Cloud Adoption

by

Technology provides an endless opportunity for businesses to optimize, grow, and innovate. In the race to remain competitive, businesses have launched their way into cloud adoption. McAfee calculated that companies using the cloud grow 19.3% faster than their competitors. This IT gold rush is very much reflective of the “First Wave” of cloud adoption – focused on lower costs and failsafe information backup. Now, with this “Second Wave” on the rise, companies are focusing on the revenue growth potential and better business outcomes. In order to be successful, this will require a much more optimized cloud strategy.

The First Wave benefits of cloud adoption were obvious, and with the Second Wave businesses are seeing increased potential. With the proper cloud adoption strategy, companies can expect to see improved mobility and collaboration, better disaster recovery, cost efficiency, increased data security, environmental consciousness, and limitless scalability.

Improved Mobility and Collaboration

Public and shared cloud solutions provide the opportunity for people across any organization to access data from anywhere with an internet connection. Simultaneous collaboration helps the flow of ideas, and saves time by cutting out the limbo period between input. This increased productivity also can aid in improving employee satisfaction. In fact, organizations with employee satisfaction listed as a priority are up to 24% more likely to expand cloud usage according to Dell research. Cloud has made remote work possible – and connects people with ideas across the world with one click.

Cloud infrastructure is more reactive than any predecessor solutions. Businesses looking to optimize processes, pick up on trends internally, or capture errors can react instantaneously with cloud computing built into their cloud servers. Within moments of a change, information can be procured, revised, or compared. This can help avoid disaster or grant a competitive edge to any company possessing a fully utilized cloud portfolio. 

Disaster Recovery

No matter how large, successful, private, or prepared an organization is – there is no way to prevent or predict everything that could impact it. One major benefit to cloud application is disaster recovery. In downtime, businesses can lose anything from productivity to revenue to brand reputation. Luckily, cloud backup can recover data quickly and accurately. An article by Salesforce.com has found that 20% of cloud uses can claim disaster recovery in four hours or less, while only 9% of non-cloud users could claim the same.

In a study by Salesforce.com, 94% of businesses who used cloud services claimed they saw an improvement in security after switching to the cloud. 91% said the cloud makes it easier to meet government compliance requirements.

Cost Effective

Using a cloud-based infrastructure is proven to significantly reduce costs across IT, hardware, maintenance, and operations. According to an IDC White Paper for Cisco, companies are realizing $1.6 million in additional revenue and $1.2 million in reduced costs per cloud application. With cloud, businesses are no longer obligated to spend large amounts of money on purchasing and maintaining equipment. In fact, some in-house infrastructure may become obsolete.

Many organizations and businesses rely on IT teams to fix bugs and solve server issues. It can become costly for a team of developers to handle and manage an on-premise system on a daily basis. Not to mention, ensuring internal servers are running properly draws attention and work away from innovation and revenue-focused initiatives. To avoid this internal responsibility, more businesses are beginning to adopt the cloud, resulting in a more optimized workforce, and the lowered cost and liability related to owned hardware and on-site servers. 

Environmentally Friendly

Today’s consumers, as well as businesses, are becoming more environmentally conscious. Cloud computing, because of its intangible nature, results in much less of a carbon footprint than traditional record keeping. Salesforce.com stated that cloud infrastructures support environmental proactivity, powering virtual services rather than physical products and hardware. This cuts down on paper waste, improves energy efficiency, and reduces commuter-related emissions. As more businesses utilize a cloud infrastructure, they use fewer physical servers- meaning less tangible resources and a reduced environmental impact.

Scalability

Prior to cloud applications and technology, enterprises ran on custom-built IT infrastructures. This required a large fraction of IT personnel just to maintain the current system. When growth was unforeseen or systems were overloaded, they simply crashed. With cloud, IT can scale up and down as needed – and in some cases organically. This “self-healing” nature has reduced IT incidents by over 70% according to McKinsey insights.

Cloud also offers several options for customers varying in need. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach like some in-house applications can produce, cloud can be optimized to meet varying needs. Private, public, and hybrid cloud can work together to store, protect, and organize data in many ways. It all depends on the needs of the organization, and their vision for a repeatable and expandable future for themselves.

Cloud is the latest innovation in business transformation and is accessible and beneficial to many businesses. This technology allows companies to streamline their daily operations effectively and efficiently, while also providing peace of mind. Because of these factors, it’s no surprise that the cloud industry is booming – and the need for cloud-experts is meeting an unprecedented high. The ultimate challenge lies in finding this talent.

Blue Signal is an expert in the cloud space, and has the necessary connections to ensure a faster, more secure adoption process. If you are a specialist in this space or a business looking to implement cloud offerings into your own company, contact us to connect to your next great investment.

2018: The Year of User-Friendly Enterprise DAS

by

A recent industry survey by Coleman Parkes found that properties with excellent in-building wireless coverage technology were worth 28% more than properties with poor indoor coverage. The demand for reliable in-building wireless continues to grow. Many older buildings are constructed from materials that block cell signals and create pain points for building tenants. Even buildings with cellular coverage often lack capacity for today’s normal mobile usage. However, building owners have been reluctant to upgrade because of the perception that a DAS infrastructure investment is too costly. This year, that is changing. High-quality DAS solutions are becoming available for mid-sized businesses.inbuilding wireless

Wireless companies are competing heavily for businesses in the “middleprise” sector: venues between 50,000 and 500,000 square feet. While DAS is the default coverage solution for big venues like stadiums, airports, and large enterprises, a full-scale DAS is not usually cost-effective for midsize venues like hotels, malls, and hospitals. They are big enough to need an in-building coverage solution to boost the indoor signal, because poor coverage affects employee performance, productivity, and even the rent that the building owner can charge. However, traditional DAS solutions are often too large and expensive for these venues. WiFi coverage alone is not enough to deal with high data volume, and VoWiFi is not reliable enough for mission-critical telecommunications.

These midsize enterprises sometimes balk at pulling the trigger on a major DAS installation because of price or complexity. Since many companies have a BYOD policy, their connectivity solution needs to support bandwidth-intensive, multi-operator, multi-band functionality. At the same time, it needs to be cost-effective, secure, easy to manage, and somewhat future-proof.

 

Multi-operator Small Cells

Middleprise businesses have traditionally avoided small cells because of their limitation to a single carrier. Installing separate small cells for each carrier looks bulky and is unappealing from a design perspective. At this year’s Mobile World Congress, Baicells introduced their NeutralCell product, a multi-operator small cell technology that promises to eliminate this obstacle.

Shared infrastructure models are gaining traction fast. Today’s mobile user expects uninterrupted coverage, no dropped calls, high bandwidth, and high data speeds. However, MNOs cannot build their networks into every single building. Since building owners often have their own ideas about how much space they want to dedicate to network equipment, NeutralCell, SUMO, and similar emerging technologies will bridge this gap so that midsize venues can improve in-building coverage for all carriers for a competitive price.

Active Passive DAS

Signal Boosters & Passive DAS

One hybrid option that many enterprises will likely opt for in 2018 is a signal booster. While most people are familiar with indoor residential signal boosters, signal boosters in a passive DAS context are new to many enterprise owners. This option works very well for building managers who are struggling with poor indoor cell service, dropped calls, or inconsistent coverage. Passive DAS is a large-scale but simple signal booster that quickly improves coverage without complicated management.

The market often uses the term “DAS” to describe an active DAS system. But a DAS is by definition a distributed antenna system, and therefore both active and passive systems qualify as true DAS. Active DAS transmits signals through fiber cables and can boost and amplify signals as needed. Passive DAS transmits uses a leaky feeder communication system consisting of a coaxial cable that functions like an antenna, with “leaks” all along the length of the cable to allow radio signals to enter the cable along its length.

Since passive DAS costs about six times less than an active DAS system, many smaller enterprises choose it over the top-of-the-line solutions. In addition to the lower price, many enterprises prefer the shorter installation time of passive DAS (1 to 2 weeks). An active DAS can take 6 to 18 months to design and install.

 

5G and IoT-Friendly Network Design

The long-awaited 5G network infrastructure is starting to be switched on in parts of Europe, with America soon to follow. While the carriers themselves will be handling the physical wireless infrastructure 5G, many owners of large and midsize venues are considering timing their upgrades to coincide with new network technology and faster speeds.

Additionally, the number of IoT devices has ballooned to almost 9 billion devices worldwide, and is expected to hit between 10 and 15 billion devices by the end of 2018. The IoT landscape is a very strong incentive for building owners to consider DAS systems. Just 15 years ago, the vast majority of office equipment consisted of hard-linked computers, but today’s workplace depends on BYOD, consumer smart devices of all kinds, and IoT/M2M business equipment. This extra traffic puts pressure on the network. Additionally, middleprise building owners have a huge range of IoT devices customized to make their lives easier: smart utility meters, IoT-based security, smart traffic sensors, and more. The cost savings of smart building technology alone is sometimes big enough to offset the cost of a DAS or small cell solution.

 

Future Outlook

The most interesting aspect of the industry space outlook is the shifting relationship between enterprise customers and MNOs. It used to be that enterprise customers were completely dependent on the MNO to build network infrastructure to improve their connectivity and capacity. This model is still true for the individual cell phone user. But enterprise customers are experiencing such heavy demand pressure that they are no longer waiting around for the MNOs to expand the network equipment to meet their needs.

 

Learn more about our DAS and small cell recruiting specialties here.

Small Cell Industry Trends & Talent Predictions

by

Trend #1:  Outdoor Small Cell Growing 50% Faster than Indoor Solutions

The original purpose of small cells was to efficiently reuse spectrum as a capacity solution – not as a replacement for cell towers. However, outdoor small cell use as a coverage solution has grown significantly, both in rural areas and dense urban areas. While DAS and low-power small cells are well suited for indoor applications like office buildings and open-air venues like stadiums, high-power small cells are gaining ground in outdoor applications. Carriers have found that it is cheaper to densify and reuse spectrum rather than buy new blocks of spectrum for macrocell coverages. The major takeaway is that network providers and customers are taking a more nuanced view of coverage that includes a mix of small cell types and power levels to provide efficient, reliable coverage and a better handling of capacity.

Small cells still cannot beat the distance and power of macrocells (1 macro tower equals 10-30 small cells), but small cells are a cheap and effective way to patch coverage holes (at least for now — the maintenance and backhaul costs are still significant). Verizon is investing heavily in small cell densification in preparation for 5G and to support larger capacity demands. It has announced that it will begin commercial deployments this year.

Small cell comparison chart

Chart: Small cells include a mix of indoor/outdoor and high/low power solutions. Small cells improve network coverage and/or capacity. Wi-Fi is included for comparison, but is not considered small cell. 

 

Only two-thirds of new small cells are indoor, and the rest are deployed in outdoor environments. The United States is a hotbed for telecom innovation, but international demand is growing strongly as well. In the next two years, outdoor small cell is projected to jump 600%. By contrast, indoor/in-building solutions are projected to grow only 400%.

One important point to note: this small cell definition includes femtocells, whose cell radius is usually less than 50 feet and can service about 5 users at once. While femtocells do technically qualify as DRAN small cells, their application differs from other members of the small cell family.


Trend #2:  Wi-Fi Starts to Slip

It is surprising to think of Wi-Fi as an obsolete technology, but industry trends show that Wi-Fi may be on a downward slope. It used to be that only a lucky few had access to unlimited data plans, usually grandfathered from years past. Today, unlimited data plans have made a comeback. T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T all offer unlimited data plans. Slower speeds have replaced overage charges for heavy data users.

LTE’s biggest advantage over Wi-Fi is that LTE can be taken anywhere (and Wi-Fi, which is an extension of LAN, will never be as mobile as LTE). As data usage climbs, people expect to use all of their devices everywhere, and finding a Wi-Fi hotspot becomes more of a burden. Coffee shops and public areas are less enthusiastic about footing the bill for Wi-Fi when many customers only buy a cup of coffee and use the network for hours. Wi-Fi technology is fussy and less secure than LTE. As security becomes more and more of an issue, customers are likely to demand LTE-based solutions over Wi-Fi. This trend will accelerate as expanding technology offers more options for less money.

Unlicensed and Licensed Spectrum

Overview of key differences in LTE-U, LAA, and MuLTEfire by Qualcomm.

Image: Overview of key differences in LTE-U, LAA, and MuLTEfire. Source: Qualcomm

 

Unlimited data is not the only competitor to Wi-Fi. Carriers are rushing to densify networks and expand unlicensed spectrum coverage, a family that includes LTE-U, LAA, and MuLTEfire. Wi-Fi is becoming more of a niche technology than the go-to. LTE-U (deployments in the US, Korea, and India) and LAA (deployments in the EU, Japan, and others) use unlicensed spectrum aggregated with licensed spectrum as a Wi-Fi coexistence strategy. They improve the signal without interfering with Wi-Fi. MuLTEfire, by contrast, is LTE realized fully in unlicensed spectrum, and it poses the most serious threat to Wi-Fi. The technology may advance to the point where customers can install a private LTE router in their homes, just like Wi-Fi but with the added benefits of LTE. If the price is comparable to Wi-Fi coverage, this could make home Wi-Fi coverage obsolete.

All the way back to 1993, data usage has never dropped. Growth has accelerated year over year as carriers continue to throw money into network expansion, mostly on outdoor small cell technology to keep costs down and allow for future compatibility with 5G devices.

5G is projected to unseat (or at least compete strongly) with Wi-Fi, especially when it comes to connected devices. Connected devices are compatible with Wi-Fi and LTE, but 5G is specifically designed for compatibility with connected devices. This may prove to be the downfall of Wi-Fi. One opposing viewpoint is Wi-Fi is not going anywhere. As new technology emerges within LTE, Wi-Fi technology is also evolving. New Wi-Fi technologies are closer to carrier-grade — and carriers still rely heavily on their ability to offload on Wi-Fi.

Voice vs. Data Usage since 2011

Mobile voice traffic has been flat since 2011, while data traffic has climbed 1800%

Image: Voice traffic growth has been flat since 2011, while data consumption has jumped over 1300%. Graph: Akamai’s Q2-2016 State of the Internet Report. data from Ericsson’s Mobility Report.

 

One opposing viewpoint is Wi-Fi is not going anywhere. As new technology emerges within LTE, Wi-Fi technology is also evolving. New Wi-Fi technologies are closer to carrier-grade — and carriers still rely heavily on their ability to offload on Wi-Fi.

 

Trend #3: Changing Government Regulations

Many regulations are outdated, obsolete, and have no guidelines for the newest technology, including small cells. This hits hardest at the local level, where budgets are tight and laws can be slow to change. Many local municipalities do not have the resources to keep up with telecom technology that is changing at lightning speeds, let alone revamp the regulations.

Carriers are expecting the FCC to streamline municipal telecom regulations this year to ease the administrative and financial burden of installing small cells, towers, and other network infrastructure. Currently, many cities classify small cells the same as macrocell towers, even though the two technologies have totally different footprints, sizes, and expense. A tower can be hundreds of feet tall, while a small cell can be the size of a lunchbox. However, some cities charge the same fees for both. Some companies have attempted to classify their solutions as public utilities to save themselves hefty permit costs and administrative roadblocks.

Despite some difficulties, there are success stories. The city of Orlando, FL recently accepted bids for a large-scale small cell installation to improve coverage in the city. Some municipalities, especially in tech-friendly large urban areas, are moving ahead with ambitious small cell projects. Laws are changing to better accommodate new technologies. The city of Philadelphia worked with AT&T and Verizon to deploy a 37-node small cell network in anticipation of Pope Francis’s visit in September 2015. The project took only 9 months from start to finish. It was able to proceed thanks to huge public demand and pressure for the city and the telecom companies to work together to achieve a mutual goal.

 

Predictions for Small Cell Talent

Network providers are facing many challenges for their projects, including a severe talent shortage. We predict the following skills will be in highest demand for 2017 and early 2018:

IoT/M2M and 5G

The distance between IoT and small cell is shrinking. As Wi-Fi dependence begins to drop, network providers will need to build more and more IoT/M2M functionality into network designs (especially as 5G comes closer to being a reality). M2M connections are expected to make up almost half of all connected devices by 2020. Specifically, companies will be looking for people with hands-on experience within the IoT value chain. This includes IoT platform design, smart object design, module design, and integration with 3rd party applications.

Because of spectrum limitations, 5G will deploy on a very high frequency, including mmW. This means that traditional cell towers cannot deploy that spectrum, even with advanced beam-forming techniques. Small cells are the only way to deploy the mmW spectrum. This means carriers will have to deploy small cells—possibly on the order of millions—within the next 10 years. Since small cells have design, maintenance, and repair needs just like macrocells, there will be a huge uptick in field work, engineering, construction, and related job duties.

This is one of the biggest looming talent shortages. The IoT/M2M/5G space will create millions of jobs — some estimate over 4 million IoT developer jobs alone by 2020. However, experts also expect that IoT and connected device technology will severely disrupt the labor market. Millions of people who work low-level jobs in fast food, retail, transportation, and supply chain will be displaced.

Standardization & Infrastructure Sharing

Infrastructure sharing is a growing trend while the telecom landscape continues to shift rapidly. There will be a very high demand for employees who can understand and build strategy around shared infrastructure. This will be especially true in the next five years as networks complete coverage expansion projects.

European markets had another record year in 2016 for colocation data center capacity. Colocation promotes standardization and harmony between carriers’ data/voice technology, which is good for the consumer and the industry. Demand will continue to increase for employees with a sound understanding of existing 3GPP standards, as well as foresight for how standards may evolve to accommodate emerging technology.

Interference Mitigation Skills

In an increasingly crowded network, interference is one of the top challenges for high-traffic networks. Managing interference and higher spectrum utilization techniques will be a key goal for network providers, integrators, colocation facilities, and product developers, with applications at almost every level. Demand for this skill will rise fastest among design engineers and product managers. Expect strong demand for sales engineers who can explain interference mitigation technology to potential customers.

Public Sector Technical Sales Skills

While private sector companies are scrambling to upgrade their networks, the public sector is more uneven in its acceptance of new telecom technology. With the challenge of previously mentioned regulatory hurdles, telecom firms need to arm themselves with persuasive and highly knowledgeable salespeople. A strong salesperson can effectively navigate administrative roadblocks and match municipal requirements with network solutions that work. By contrast, some public sector entities are way ahead, aggressively updating building and fire codes with new wireless standards. Companies who win key installation deals early on are more likely to enjoy repeat business and maintenance contracts from the same customers.

 

If your company is searching for small cell talent, contact us for a free evaluation of your hiring needs. Reach our telecom specialist directly at mwalsh@bluesignal.com.