Telecoms Tech

Virtually everything in our lives has gotten more expensive over the years; such as housing, cars, postage stamps, food and energy. Yet telecommunications and broadband service costs continue to plummet...

Facebook has this week launched ‘Home’, software running on Android which turns a user’s phone lock screen into a news feed and a user interface for the social giant. But how does this align with other Facebook strategy, and what are the wider implications for the telecoms industry?

The French case is an example of the uncertainty that surrounds the definition and regulation of VoIP services. VoIP is exercising increasing pressure on voice revenues, and providers of these services should expect to be regulated in the same way as traditional telephony, at least for the next few years.

With traditional core revenues from circuit switched voice under pressure, telecom service providers across the globe are exploring new strategies to remain competitive in an IP-based networking environment. To date, video communication is an untapped opportunity.

I see quite a few articles (especially by Gary Kim) about service providers becoming irrelevant. In this article, he quotes Matthew Key, CEO of Telefónica’s digital division, arguing "that mobile operators must invest in innovation, because they are becoming 'commoditised' and their relevance to customers is 'decreasing.'"

Revenues for the European wholesale telecommunications market remained steady between 2010 and 2011, despite the economic downturn, intense competition, and regulatory actions.

There is nothing groundbreaking about Facebook's new VoIP service for now - but despite its present inferior offering, a Facebook voice service has the potential to be the most disruptive communications solution in the smartphone era.

"The Internet cannot and never will carry society's real-time communications needs. It is fundamentally unsuited to the job." Discuss.