Illuminating the Right Talent: The Future of the Lighting Industry

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The initial boom of the lighting industry began with fluorescent lighting in the 1930s and 40s. Since then, the lighting industry has expanded and transitioned into a much higher technical and innovative field. LEDs dominated the lighting industry in 2020, sweeping 61% of the global lighting market. According to Mordor Intelligence, the LED lighting market was valued at $75.81 billion last year and is projected to grow to $160.3 billion by 2026.

Seasoned by 80+ years of evolvement, the lighting industry continues to innovate and expand market reach across almost every industry you can name. Lighting is in everything, everywhere, and affects everyone in all aspects of our daily routines. As we’ve come to rely on and expect this advanced technology, it’s often easier to overlook this market as one of the driving forces of innovation. One of the key advancements we’re seeing in the lighting industry is its entrance into the digital world. The lighting industry is stepping into the spotlight across the technology industry. Key companies and manufacturers are taking advantage of the use of lighting; digitally, wirelessly, and sustainably. The lighting industry as a whole is moving beyond its traditional purpose of illumination and adding value to tangible aspects of our, technologically advanced, new world.

Future Tech in the Lighting Industry

Technology that will Shape the Future:

Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR)

In the near term, the global AR/VR market is expected to grow by $125 billion in the period from 2020‒2024, according to research firm Technavio. As our digital world continues to advance into further capabilities of augmented and virtual realities, the lighting industry will evolve simultaneously. Beyond video gaming and entertainment use cases, virtual reality (VR) is on track to be utilized across a wide range of industries – vastly impacting the way we do business. For example, a lighting designer could sit down with a potential client and physically show how various lighting options would look like at a job site through augmented reality.

This same concept would be transferable across all industries and increase efficiency – leading to less waste, less downtime, and less confusion when delivering a product or service. To advance to this space, technology will need to continue to advance within the lighting industry. Innovations such as liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), digital light processing (DLP), and liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) lighting have built a strong foundation but individually lack in certain areas. The jury is still out on which innovative solution is to come, but the advancement is inevitable.

Machine Learning (ML)

As we venture into the possibilities of creating fully virtual worlds, lighting technologies are bound to play a major role in the way we create a life-like experience using imagery. But before that can come to fruition, data collection and machine learning (ML) will set the stage. The lighting industry will rely on this technology to further advance products through the collection of learned data and routines. The data collected by an all-digital lighting infrastructure is essential for diagnostics and root-cause analysis. The ability to detect and minimize premature wear out or system failures becomes essential when implementing lighting technology into critical devices – such as those in the healthcare industry. Further, the ability to digitally learn patterns and routines within homes and businesses will increase sustainability and cost-saving features by conserving energy during downtime.

Internet of Things (IoT)

In today’s day and age, we rely on the internet to be connected in most of our devices and throughout our daily routines. By no surprise, the Internet of Things (IoT) industry is booming with no sign of slowing down. This has made it a key player in the advancement in the lighting industry. Since lighting is used all around us, IoT enabled lighting advances the development of connected systems. This collaboration of two industries is further enabling smart buildings and devices we use in offices, businesses, and homes. Implementing IoT enabled LED lighting in every room of a building helps create smarter buildings and cities, enabling countless capabilities.

A particular market that is on the rise in the lighting industry is human-centric lighting (HCL). HCL is defined as light that mimics natural daylight throughout the hours of a day that in turn allows our bodies to function in their most natural and effective state. Human-centric lighting is among the key markets that are thought to be most effectively implemented with IoT compatible lighting. Further, we are seeing IoT compatible LED lighting as the powerhouse behind systems that innovate air conditioning and heating, power grid management, and even next-gen wireless communications.

Li-Fi

With the explosive advancements in 5G technology, Li-Fi is has become a key player in the cellular and internet space. As 5G connection ramps up and slowly becomes available, Li-Fi has been able to fill a gap in how efficiently we’re able to access information. Essentially, Li-Fi is the upgraded version of Wi-Fi internet connectivity using light rather than radio waves to transfer connection. With the functionality to transfer data at speeds up to one hundred times faster, it has opened up the unlimited capabilities the lighting industry has to offer. For example, having Li-Fi integrated into LED lighting would create an alternate path for internet connectivity in high traffic and functioning spaces such as commercial buildings such as airports and offices. By being able to transmit at multiple gigabits, being more reliable, virtually interference free, and uniquely more secure than radio technology such as Wi-Fi or cellular, Li-Fi is the key to a connected community.

Lighting Controls

The advancement of IoT and Li-Fi technology has enabled the lighting industry to develop innovated lighting controls. These controls allow for ease of use and functionality within lighting products. With smart lighting as the clear future of the lighting industry and products, these controls have become a vital piece in the inevitable adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and other advancing technology. From these advancements, sensors and lighting automation have seen an influx in demand. By using integrated sensors and controls, no central control hardware or room-based sensors need to be wired. This allows for a faster installation and increased accessibility. It has now become simple for users to adjust settings, automate schedules, and utilize their lighting products from virtually anywhere by connecting through portable applications – no cables or wires required. On a larger scale, this capability allows for the collection of important information about the operation of structures or systems such as power grids and emergency generators. Allowing us to make more informed decisions and ensures safety precautions are in place and running smoothly at all times.

The Future of Hiring in the Lighting Industry:

As these technologies linked to the lighting industry continue to advance, what does this mean in terms of the industry’s job market? For clients, candidates, and recruiters alike it means honing in on key skill sets and niches that stand out. One of the top skills impacting the lighting industry involves controls implementation. This certain integration with other technologies is not an intuitive process and requires specific education that is not simply taught on the job. In today’s job market, electrical contractors can differentiate themselves by their ability as system integrators. In turn, recruiters can highlight these candidates and hiring managers can start their search for these candidates while the supply is still available. A working knowledge of the various protocols and best practices for integration will be critical for the foreseeable future.

Li-Fi is another key market that should be narrowed in on when sifting through candidate’s skills and knowledge. This new technology has momentum, products are available, and the limitations of 5G in interior spaces will further accelerate the value of Li-Fi in the marketplace. Electrical engineers that understand the implementation of data-flow solutions through Li-Fi-enabled fixtures will be vastly sought after in the lighting industry.

Lastly, COVID-19 has brought on an increased need for advanced technology within the healthcare industry. Niche market segments like ultraviolet disinfection products have increased in demand. Ultraviolet light has been used to sterilize and disinfect medical equipment for quite some time but lacked innovation as of recently. The global impact of the pandemic triggered researchers across the globe to develop an ultraviolet LED solution to disinfect and sterilize hospital beds, floors, and surfaces more thoroughly than ever before. This has become critical technology and with its new advancement, the lighting industry is predicted to build upon these innovations and further implement them across industries.

As we can see, lighting plays an integral role in essentially every market sector. Coupled with recent innovation in technology, the capabilities are endless. With the overall theme of emerging tech moving toward all-digital infrastructures, every new innovation in the lighting industry leads to a golden opportunity to lay the foundation for advancement. The global lighting industry is expected to grow to $163 billion by 2027, which has proven itself not to be a market to overlook. When navigating this exciting time in a growing sector, utilize the expertise of Blue Signal’s recruiters who are seasoned with over 15 years of experience hiring within the lighting industry. We are a trusted source with a firm understanding of what it takes to find qualified candidates – faster than the speed of light. Reach out to one of our specialized recruiters today and start illuminating the way to your perfect hire or dream job.

Small Cell Industry Trends & Talent Predictions

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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.