FEATURE comes more traffic and an increased awareness of how important telecom/Internet networks have become. Politicians and other Authorities are finally becoming aware of the importance of great connectivity for practically every function in today’s society. With this comes the obvious increased vulnerability to cyber-crime and the increased tension between Countries around asset ownership and cyber espionage. “Telecom” will again become a top topic for politicians.
THE TOP 3 AREAS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CARRIER BUSINESS
1. The network itself. For years it seemed like the only way for a Carrier to become more sustainable on the network side was to beg your colocation provider to buy more “green” energy. The data center industry has come a long way in their green thinking, focusing on renewable energy sources, smart cooling, and even heat recovery to reduce CO2 emissions. Still, the rest of how we build and operate networks is far behind. In 2022 there will be more focus on CO2 calculations, circular economy discussions and why we still “dig” networks as we did 30 years ago. 2. Your workforce. Parts of our industry have traditionally been very male dominant with an aging workforce as a result. With the industry more focused on software, it is a perfect time to use the advantage of a workforce diverse in both gender, age and nationality. In 2022 many more companies will realize that a diverse workforce adds better decision making and becomes a much better place to work within. Initiatives like “Women in Tech” and “Fiber splicing summer schools,” among others, will be increasingly important. 3. The way you conduct your business. With the world becoming more connected and open comes further responsibilities for telco operators. With the public Internet being a trust-based network, every AS network needs to focus on its role. Anti-bribery, freedom of speech, limited corruption are just a few examples of areas that will play an even more important role during 2022. Companies that do not have trust from
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SUBMARINE TELECOMS MAGAZINE
their customers or peers will disappear faster than ever before.
THE TOP 3 THINGS WHERE THE COST DOES NOT GO DOWN
1. Space. With real estate pricing more or less increasing every year, the spill-over effect on telecom colocation space is inevitable. As most data centers are located in prime locations close to large city centers where space is both scarce and costly, the problems seem to persist. During 2022 we will see an increasing focus on smaller equipment and, more importantly, the removal of older and more sizeable gear. 2. Power. The cost of power (OPEX) is one of the largest challenges operators face today. Some of this is due to general power price increases on the electricity market, but some are driven by legacy equipment that is complex
“YOU CAN’T PREDICTU THE FUTURE, BUT YO CAN BE READY! and fragmented. Many operators run older gear simply because it still works. Why change it if it isn’t broken? The problem is that outdated equipment was not designed with efficiency in mind. In the past, increased performance was much more important than the efficiency or cost of Watt/ Mb. This is changing, and in 2022 Service Providers and Operators will challenge their Suppliers even further to have power on their minds when designing the next generation of equipment. 3. Skilled people. Without people who understand the mathematical complexities of network automation and streaming telemetry, it is unrealistic to assume that the major hurdles of true automation can be overcome. While machines and software will do more and more for us, they still need to be designed and programmed to perform what we ask them to do. Skilled labor who combine industry expertise with software knowledge
