Modern telecommunications industry players produce communication equipment and deliver a set of voice, data, and broadband services using wireline or wired infrastructure of cables, networks, servers, computers, and satellites. In this article, we will define the telecom industry and discuss some of the key business drivers. Understand the various constituents of the telecommunication services sector followed by a small discussion on current industry trends.

Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages such as coded drumbeats, lung-blown horns, and loud whistles. In modern times, telecommunications involves the use of electrical devices such as the telegraph, telephone, radio, and microwave communications. Communication channels make use of fiber optics and their associated electronics, orbiting satellites, and the Internet. Modern telecommunications industry players produce communication equipment and deliver a set of voice, data, and broadband services using wireline or wired infrastructure of cables, networks, servers, computers, and satellites.

This industry is highly sensitive to the slightest change in regulatory, technological, and economic factors and has its own share of challenges largely stemming from these factors. With wireless and broadband providing the needed momentum to their growth, the industry players adopt unique strategies to overcome these challenges and move forward to connect people to people and organizations.

In today’s world the telephone, long-distance, cable/video, cellular, and telecommunications equipment industries are increasingly intertwined. Major challenges of this industry are globalization trends, competitive implications of new technologies, and the changing regulatory environment.