June 13, 2024 · 6 min to read
Telecom operators offer various services, with telephony being one of the core offerings. As technology advances and customer expectations evolve, continuous modernization of the telephony infrastructure is inevitable. In this article, we’ll try to explore the necessity of modernization, the domains of improvement, and how partnering with a professional vendor can facilitate this transformation.
The Need for Modernization
In the beginning, it’s crucial to understand why modernization matters. A clear understanding of this topic will help you define what exactly you should improve with your infrastructure. Let’s consider the most important reasons for this process:
- Strengthen security. Cyber threats don’t disappear, and hackers always search for vulnerabilities in existing phone systems. Without regular updates and modernization, there’s a massive risk that outdated infrastructure will be hacked soon. So, constant modernizing is essential to protect sensitive data and maintain customer trust.
- Enhance automation. As usual, the newer the infrastructure, the better its capability to automate various tasks. For instance, telecom operators can optimize different processes, such as billing, and reduce the need for manual work.
- Extend the amortization period. Updating infrastructure can delay the need for costly replacements, maximizing the ROI. Suppose a telecom operator decides to ignore modernization. In that case, they’ll face a situation when the infrastructure is completely outdated, and the only way to solve the problem is to build everything nearly from scratch.
In other words, modernizing your telephony infrastructure isn't just a beneficial option to enhance your service quality; it's a necessary step. Ignoring this need puts you at risk of being unable to launch new in-demand services, potentially leading to the obsolescence and end of support for your offerings. Continuous infrastructure modernization should be a core strategy for telecom operators to stay competitive.
Areas of Modernizing Telephony Infrastructure
When modernizing infrastructure, several key areas should be considered. Ideally, you should focus on each domain to gradually update your infrastructure from all angles. Let's explore the most crucial aspects of modernization.
Network Transformation
Networks need to be modernized to support future technologies. A contemporary network seamlessly integrates different components of the digital core and other cutting-edge technologies. We’ll examine two options every telecom operator has for replacing outdated network switches.
For example, it’s possible to implement network function virtualization (NFV) technologies that integrate software with existing legacy systems. It allows operators to use standard server hardware to perform functions previously deployed in specialized equipment. Though this provides immediate benefits, telecom operators still encounter scalability challenges and the ongoing need for manual maintenance updates.
You can also consider cloud-based solutions. These offer your network all the advantages of the cloud — such as scalability, unmatched service agility, and sustainable margins — and are suitable for any telecom operator. Cloud solutions offer high flexibility in delivering new services, enabling quick adaptation to market changes and customer demands.
For example, it’s possible to implement network function virtualization (NFV) technologies that integrate software with existing legacy systems. It allows operators to use standard server hardware to perform functions previously deployed in specialized equipment. Though this provides immediate benefits, telecom operators still encounter scalability challenges and the ongoing need for manual maintenance updates.
You can also consider cloud-based solutions. These offer your network all the advantages of the cloud — such as scalability, unmatched service agility, and sustainable margins — and are suitable for any telecom operator. Cloud solutions offer high flexibility in delivering new services, enabling quick adaptation to market changes and customer demands.
Cybersecurity
According to Infopulse, telecom companies face an average of 104,000 cyber-attacks annually, about three times higher than in other sectors. To prevent security threats, consider the following steps:
- Leverage machine learning for continuous, real-time network monitoring to identify and respond to suspicious activities and analyze these threats to establish a predictive security posture.
- Conduct security architecture reviews by third-party specialists to evaluate all security layers across infrastructure, applications, workflows, and personnel.
New Services
Modernizing only networks and cybersecurity isn’t enough. As basic telephony becomes a commodity, telecom operators should expand their offerings beyond basic connectivity to advise subscribers on maximizing the benefits of their connected services.
For instance, operators can introduce a cloud PBX service with sought-after features like call recording, call history and statistics, call whispering, CRM integrations, and more. The practice has shown that B2B customers value these offerings and are willing to pay for the enhanced functionality. Along with network modernization and cybersecurity improvements, services like a cloud PBX can help telecom operators stay competitive for years.
For instance, operators can introduce a cloud PBX service with sought-after features like call recording, call history and statistics, call whispering, CRM integrations, and more. The practice has shown that B2B customers value these offerings and are willing to pay for the enhanced functionality. Along with network modernization and cybersecurity improvements, services like a cloud PBX can help telecom operators stay competitive for years.
