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O ering digital transformation solutions

for every stage of a telco’s life cycle

Telco Futurism

Dean Bubley
Disruptive Analysis
Founder

Pandemics This time, what’s different is the way that technology
his is the sixth blog post in a series on – and especially telecoms and mobile technology – is
“TelcoFuturism” – which focuses on the taking a central role. From assistance with diagnosis and
intersection points between the telecom industry, medical response, to underpinning the changes needed
Tareas of advanced technology, such as drones, in workplaces, homes and cities, as people cope with
AI, AR/VR and robotics, plus societal changes such as “social distancing” and restrictions on travel and large
climate change & shifting demographics. Disruptive gatherings.
Analysis looks at these adjacent technologies through
the lens of what’s really happening in networking, This post gives an overview of what is happening at
opportunities challenges that could emerge and the the moment – and how that may change in
tough practicalities and complexities telcos face, rather future, as this epidemic is brought under control
than accepting the general hype and rose-tinted views and we start to think about lessons learned.
common among some forecasters.
Impact on the medical & emergency services sector
Note: this post has been written in early March 2020, as Above even the impact on remote working and
the COVID-19 Coronavirus had infected about 110,000 “self-isolation” of at-risk individuals, the first and
people worldwide. It is intended to give a future view, foremost impact of telecoms in a pandemic is how
rather than being a direct analysis of the current it applies to the healthcare and broader medical and
situation. The author is not a medical professional or public-safety services.
epidemiologist – please observe official advice.
Obviously, there is a consistent need for communications
2020 is turning into a wake-up call for the world amongst emergency services’ for ambulance and
regarding the risks of pandemics, to a far greater extent paramedic dispatch – which in a number of markets
than earlier situations with SARS or Ebola. Whatever is evolving from legacy two-way radio to 4G and then
the outcome, we can be certain that COVID-19 will not 5G. Over time, this will enable improved on-scene
be the last such outbreak – something similar will occur emergency diagnostics and treatment, with video feeds
again in future. and streaming data from medical sensors and equipment.

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