Thoughts for this World Telecommunication Day.

Thoughts for this World Telecommunication Day.

1. Convergence of Wired and Wireless networks. With the meld of Telecom & IT, with Data and Multi-media gain predominance over Voice telephony and with vanishing of discriminating factors between the type of backbone / distribution and end-links, we will find that wired and wireless network will converge in the near future. After all "Fixed"  or "Wired" now means "Limited Mobility".   

Currently the main discriminating factors are the type of user end devices, the end links, and the switching systems. The user devices and end links are already becoming common, right path for the future is also to have a common switching system that can handle both wired and wireless subscribers with appropriate terminating equipments in the subscriber line termination. Some manufacturers already have a COMBI-SWITCH which has this facility. 

Last mile or End link for the home is just one connectivity which can provide access to numer of Phones, Computers and TV.  User end terminal als may converge to one box which has the TV, modems for wirelesss LAN for Computers / Laaptops and phones in every room. Convergence of Wired and Wireless network will happen when the phone in the house is SIM enabled and hence could be taken anywhere with you and the end links get handed over around network as you move around.

With addition of HLR and VLR, it is possible to have roaming facility between Wired networks also. With roaming and optimal routing, it will also be possible to provide full Number Portability, Network and Carrier selection in wired networks more easily than the current proposals.

2. Sharing of systems and networks / Merger and acquisitions. Another major revolution that should happen soon will be the segregation of Telecom Service provision and Network Operation. With huge CAPEX and OPEX for unnecessarily redundant independent systems, networks and spectrum for every service provider, the whole telecom operation in country like India will have either to go in for major M&A's so as to limit the number of Service providers or to adopt sharing of systems and networks provided by exclusive and limited number of network operators by large number of Service providers as in Mobile Virtual Networks.

The decision of choice and the path to it is difficult but inevitable if the business has to survive and end user continue to get low cost service. With added woes of the Industry by additional burden of high spectrum cost, restrictions on M&A and import of cheaper systems by regulators the Government, and ARPU going southwards with unhealthy price wars,  Telecom industry need to quickly look into these issues.