The digital revolution is here 20 FOR 2020
In all his years working in telecommunications, Rob Lister has never known a time like it. The managing director of Lister Unified Communications believes a revolution is here and if we thought technology was dominating our lives already, then we haven’t seen anything yet. Superfast broadband and 5G are not just evolutions to what has come before, they mark a revolution in what is possible from technology, at home, in the office or on the move. The way we work and play in the coming years will be shaped by mobile technology, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and the Internet of Things. With 87 per cent of UK homes served by the internet and 79 per cent of adults using a smartphone, the nation is already relying on communications technology. But we aren’t settling for old download and streaming speeds. The rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime means data consumption is increasing exponentially – the average person is using 240GB online and 3GB on mobile every month. But it’s only just the beginning, according to Rob Lister. “In all my years in the industry, I have never known a time where there has been so much opportunity,” he said. "We haveAI,VR andAR all enabled by 5G and superfast internet.We are in an era of the 'art of the possible'. “This change is fundamental and far-reaching, it will never stop. It's going to accelerate and it can be a daunting question to a business about how best to adapt to the changes.” Using their knowledge, experience and the feedback they receive, Lister have ensured they are at the head of the queue in offering the right service to their customers. As technology is improved and communication becomes easier – and vitally quicker – the stranglehold on what is possible will be released. “Longer-term, success will depend on more than just
the product,” Rob Lister said. “Customers want and expect businesses to be contactable 24/7, 365 days a year, and for a business to survive, their technology must be up to scratch. “This means understanding and defining how ICT solutions will improve the experience at each point – for the user, the team, businesses and customers. “And it’s not a matter of choosing to change.
The nation’s copper network will soon be obsolete and that next generation infrastructure will be split between pure fibre and 5G.
“The government has been crystal clear saying just that and its target is to roll out full fibre infrastructure nationwide by 2025. “We are in an era of ultra HD streaming, and developments are accelerating at a rapid rate. “Take a cloud-assisted car, for example. It’s a vehicle talking
to the one behind using an onboard computer – soon that computer can be removed from the car and put in the cloud. “At present, data can be transferred between the two on 4G in around 90 milliseconds, but that’s not good enough when you’re travelling at 70mph. “On 5G that will take just nine milliseconds, and suddenly the technology is usable and realistic.” Such is the speed of the revolution; it is estimated that there will be 20 billion IP devices – three for every one person alive on the planet – connected to the internet by 2025. With every connection comes a need for devices to manage the connection and associated data and for it to be moved securely, quickly and with a full complement of latency requirements. New industries and digital economies will spring up as a result as we all become accustomed to a new fully-digital era and ultimately there will be money to made in providing the skills and service.
24 | February 2020 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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