Mobile Data and Telecommunications - Research Paper Example

 Mobile Data and Telecommunications The new industrial development has brought significant changes in the economical, technological, physical, and social environments (CTIA, 2013). The changes in information and communication technologies are most dominant under industrial development where there are new and advance forms and devices of communication. Mobile data and telecommunications industry is prone to technological changes and communication service providers are now experiencing increased volumes and varieties of data due to the increased use of advanced mobile phones, rising numbers of mobile networks, and technological innovations. The rise of social media platforms, increase in mobile applications, and availability of applications that support the storage and transmission of huge data fosters mobile data and telecommunications. The modern mobile data and telecommunications industry in the global market encompasses variant versions of computers and cell phones that depict different applications that support the transfer of huge mobile data. The modern mobile data services include e-mail, internet, data cards, USB modems, WI-FI, Bluetooth, messaging, video conferencing, and taking pictures (RTR, 2014). This industry supports the increased use of smartphones, iPad, iPods, iPhones, and other technologies that support mobile data transfer (IBM, 2014). The mobile data and telecommunications industry offers various products and services that enhance communication, transfer of information, socialization, and entertainment. Although teenagers and young adults are the most prominent users of mobile data and telecommunications, the impact of this industry cuts across all generations and all sectors. Notably, the mobile data and telecommunications industry is becoming more popular in the global market subject to its diverse applications. History The United States stands out as the most technologically advanced country in the world in terms of the number of mobile phone lines, number of smartphones, number of mobile phone users, number of radio and television stations, number of ocean cables, and the variety of satellite facilities. The history of mobile data and telecommunications industry dates back from the 1980s. Since its introduction in the early 1980s, the underlying mobile technology passed through three phases, known as generations to the current mobile data and telecommunications. The first generation adopted analogue communication techniques, which depicts the use of (1G) phones (Cambridge University Press, n.y). During this time, only few people used mobile phones since they were luxurious, bulky, and expensive. During the second generation that used (2G) technologies like the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), more people started using mobile phones (Cambridge University Press, n.y). This was in the 1990s where the generation used more powerful digital communication techniques like text messaging, email and basic access to the Internet (Cambridge University Press, n.y). The demand for (2G) technologies led to increased use and costs of the mobile data and telecommunications during this period. The third generation (3G) phones also used digital communications to send and receive their signals in a very different way from their predecessors (Cambridge University Press, n.y). Notably, this generation allows mobile technology to support higher mobile data transfers, video calls, and high-speed internet access. The third generation technology is very popular and it uses the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) (Cambridge University Press, n.y). The mobile data and telecommunications industry is already warming up to the 4th Generation technologies that have more bandwidth and other advanced applications (Cambridge University Press, n.y). Timeline In1958 there was introduction of the A1 net in Germany (Marjanovic et al, n.y). By 1970, A1 net had coverage of 80% and covered 95% of the population in Germany (Marjanovic et al, n.y). In 1972, there was introduction of a new net and the network was working to full capacity of 27’000 by 1986 (Marjanovic et al, n.y). In 1986, there was introduction of a third analog network that had a limitation of 400’000 customers in Germany (Marjanovic et al, n.y). The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations founded a working group in 1982 (Marjanovic et al, n.y). The Global System for Mobile communications standard was available from 1987. The first devices were present in Switzerland from 1991. SMS, MMS, and WAP were available in 1995. Sprint Corp announced an advanced packet-switching network to send voice, data, and video down a single phone line in 1998 (Berinato, n.y). Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba announced the development of Bluetooth for wireless data exchange between handheld computers or cellular phones and stationary computers in 1998 (Berinato, n.y). The introduction of 56-kbps modems for high-speed communication over standard telephone lines, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) based on L2TP and IPsec security techniques, desktop video teleconferencing, and Backbone Network Service were available in the late 1990's (Berinato, n.y). Cable modems that exploit cable television connectivity begun to mature in the late 1990’s (Berinato, n.y). The Industry The economy of most European nations depends on telecommunication networks and services. The mobile data and telecommunications industry is more than a century old and is subject to communications revolution like broadband and wireless technologies that transform the industry (Verizon, 2014). The growth in this industry focused on mobile telephony markets and markets for other data services thus reducing the fixed-line voice operations. However, the higher demand for mobility from businesses and consumers, better network connectivity and higher data demand increases the current tablet connections by about 43 % (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). Notably, the turnover for Smartphone sales accounted for 60 percent of new device sales as users subscribed to more data services. However, although growth in this industry remains strong, the industry is almost reaching saturation in U.S where most of the addressable market has a mobile device and service (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). Because of this, many companies in this industry are now shifting to multi-device data plans, machine-to-machine (M2M) subscriptions, and greater customization of service plans (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). Wireless operators are now transitioning to 4G technologies to support the increasing demand for mobile broadband and newer services such as video chat and mobile TV (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). Indeed, more carriers are now seeking to decommission their older networks subject to the continued upgrading and need to cut costs and maintain multiple technologies (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). New technologies like fiber-to-the-premises are now replacing broadband connection (Verizon, 2014). Notably, the number of American wireless customers is now increasing with a penetration rate of approximately 95 percent (Verizon, 2014). Prices of local, national long-distance or international calls vary across the EU Member States where local calls are most expensive in U.K while the cheapest tariffs for local calls are in Denmark (European Commission, 2013). Germany offers the cheapest international calls in the world (European Commission, 2013). Social Impact Mobile data and telecommunications have significant social impacts on the users and the society. They facilitate fast, cheap, confidential, and easy communication between families, schoolmates, employees, employers, and the social world (Deloitte Access Economics, 2013). They also offer entertainment to the users as they have applications that support videos games, chats, sharing pictures, and music. They also allow social interactions through social sites Facebook and twitter through the internet applications supported by devices in this industry. Users can interact with their online friends and distant relatives, role models and celebrities (Deloitte Access Economics, 2013). Apart from calling, this industry allows users to share information through SMSs, Emails, Fax messages, and video conferencing. Indeed, they digitize almost all operations in the social world. However, they also derive negative effects like cyber bullying, immorality by viewing pornographic materials on the internet, and encourage laziness as people spend a lot of time on the internet. Moreover, mobile data and telecommunications isolate users from physical interactions as they spend most of their time online (Deloitte Access Economics, 2013). This leads to unstable relationships, failed marriages, and great societal problems (CTIA, 2013). The Future Most companies are aligning themselves to meet the increased demand for mobile broadband, 4G technologies, and tablets and smartphones. The future will see the increased use of these technologies and more advanced technologies as the demand for voice calls decreases. Most users will access video conferencing, devices with better security settings, high-speed internet access, cable televisions, and fiber connections. Indeed, with continued technological and industrial developments, the industry will continue to evolve and dominate all sectors in the global economy. Countries that are almost reaching saturation will have to decommission their older networks with an aim of maintaining multiple technologies and reducing operating costs (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). References Berinato, B. (n.y). History of telecommunications and data networks. Retrieved from: http://williamstallings.com/Extras/Telecom.html Cambridge University Press. (n.y). Introduction to mobile telecommunications. Retrieved from: http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/89315/excerpt/9780521889315_excerpt.pdf CTIA. (2013). Wireless Quick Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.ctia.org/your-wireless-life/how-wireless-works/wireless-quick-facts Deloitte Access Economics. (2013). The economic and social impacts of mobile technology. Retrieved from: http://www.tecc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Deloitte_Mobile_nation_7Feb2013.pdf European Commission. (2013). Telecommunication statistics. Retrieved from: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Telecommunication_statistics IBM. (2014). Exploiting big data in telecommunications to increase revenue, reduce customer churn and operating costs. Retrieved from: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/bigdata/industry-telco.html Marjanovic, D et al. (n.y). New Opportunities for B2B and B2C Services Offered by New Mobile Communication Technologies. Retrieved from: http://www.csg.uzh.ch/teaching/ws0405/inteco/extern/talk7.pdf PricewaterhouseCoopers. (2013). North American wireless industry survey. Retrieved from: http://www.pwc.com/us/en/industry/communications/publications/north-american-wireless-industry-survey.jhtml RTR. (2014). Mobile telecommunications and roaming. Retrieved from: https://www.rtr.at/en/tk/Roaming Verizon. (2014). Industry Overview. Retrieved from: http://www.verizon.com/investor/industryosverview.htm Read More