Global Telecoms Chiefs Gather to Discuss the Path Ahead 

Leading figures from the telecom sector, government representatives, as well as thought leaders attended the recent Broadband Development Congress in Barcelona, organized by the World Broadband Association (WBBA) to discuss data on demand.

The event was a stage for exciting discussions highlighting the need for the sector to adapt to swift technological advancements. 

Key speakers at the congress included Ke Ruiwen, China Telecom’s chairman and CEO, who emphasized the company’s investment in research and development (R&D), leading to new revenue streams like Tianyi Cloud.  

Andrew Bender from Finnish giant, Nokia, highlighted the shift towards multi-gigabit broadband technologies like XGS PON – a 10G-PON is a 2010 computer networking standard for data links, capable of delivering shared Internet access rates up to 10 Gbit/s over existing dark fiber – which is expected to dominate North America’s broadband network. 

President of Huawei’s Data Communication Product Line, Leon Wang, unveiled the Chinese giant’s Net 5.5G, the next generation network solutions, designed to boost revenue and manage data demands. 

“Huawei has worked closely with industry partners and proposed Net5.5G as a next-generation network,” Wang stated. “It comprehensively supports ubiquitous 10 Gbps connections, elastic ultra-broadband transport, hyper-converged data centers, and autonomous network self-optimization, empowering carriers to upgrade and evolve their networks while driving new business growth”, he stated. 

On the other hand, Accenture’s Brian J Smyth pointed out four emerging trends poised to redefine the telecom industry, including AI’s role in human-technology interaction and the rise of virtual reality. He advised on focusing on value creation, workforce transformation, vigorous digital infrastructure, and public trust as pillars for leveraging these technologies usefully. 

Established in 2021, the WBBA has played a leading role in fighting digital inequality by encouraging collaboration and innovation with industry leaders, policymakers, and regulatory bodies. With a membership of 77 entities covering over 30 countries, the congress not only paved the way for future telecom advancements but also stressed the sector’s urgent need to embrace a technology-driven future. 

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