With the Telecommunications industry advancing rapidly in the last two decades, mobile networks have improved drastically and connectivity has transcended from a luxury to a basic utility for people in 2023.
Ms. Tharunika Sridhar is a leading telecommunications visionary and an expert in the field. She is currently associated with Microsoft and through this article, discusses the elements that are redefining the present and shaping the future of this sector. She shared that the world of telecom is moving towards delivering faster bandwidths and lower latencies to enable M2M (machine to machine) communications for enterprises which assist the industries to grow as they are invariably dependent upon network and telecommunications for operations to take place.
Sridhar has been noticeably present in the sphere of electronics and communications since her days of pursuing a B.E. in Electronics and Communication. She published her first research paper during her bachelor’s in the International Journal of Electrical, Electronics and Data Communication (IJEEDC), which proposed an over-the-air real-time alerting mechanism to avert crimes and accidents in public transportation, specifically targeted for developing countries like India.
In 2023, however, 5G is one of the biggest talking points in the realm of telecommunication and cloud connectivity. The advent of 5G as a daily-use mechanism has revolutionized the usage of the internet altogether. “5G is shaping the future of the industry across the globe. Mobile network operators in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia are deploying 5G at unprecedented speeds, while hundreds of millions of users are already utilizing the phenomenal download and upload speeds unlocked by 5G” said Tharunika.
“Leveraging the higher bandwidth and ultra-low latencies of the 5G networks, IoT products can be connected, and ecosystems can be built on a very secure network. Enterprises can also leverage IoT ecosystems for asset tracking, smarter deliveries and more”, she added. For example, with the help of 5G FWA (Fixed-Wireless Access) devices in homes and commercial buildings, everything can be interconnected from air conditioners to light bulbs. Enterprises can also leverage IoT ecosystems for asset tracking, smarter deliveries, and more.
Tharunika worked as a 5G Next Gen Core Intern in T-Mobile’s lab environment at T-Mobile, one of the US’s largest telecom operators while pursuing her Master’s in the USA, specializing in Wireless Communication and Networking. Back then, she was heavily involved with the then industry standard of 3G and LTE systems. Soon after that, she had shifted into Packet Core engineering which is considered to be the backbone of the imminent voice and data services available over 4G/5G NSA and 5G SA standards.
The arrival of 5G has helped businesses and organizations foster growth at a faster pace. For enterprises, 5G unlocks a host of new use cases — remote learning, remote healthcare, more robust security systems, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and the list goes on for what 5G can possibly enable in the near future. Although AI and Cloud have long existed in the world of data communication, they still feel new and industry-disruptive due to the miles and miles of potential that there is left to cover.
Tharunika highlights the ability of AI to analyze large amounts of data and interact with customers without the need of human labor, resulting in cost savings and better use of resources. Individuals can use AI to help generate content ideas if they are creators or can enable faster decision making with more precise data at disposal. “Powered by faster networks, AI can help with automating processes, which will not only help enterprises, but also individuals at various levels.” Tharunika stated.
Cloud computing and data storage, on the other hand, are making it possible for users to get access to large data in remote locations with just the help of an internet connection. Cloud computing bundled with AI and faster 5G networks will change how the world behaves forever and this will happen sooner than what most anticipate.
Today, Tharunika Sridhar works at Microsoft’s Azure Team for Operators, which focuses on providing cloud-based solutions for Operators. Rightfully a thought leader, she has come to hold great understanding of modern telecommunications and works with the world’s largest companies in a tireless pursuit of advancing how not just humans, but also modern machines and devices communicate with each other.
Talking about the future of the telecommunications industry, Sridhar confidently points to Satellite Internet. It is something relatively new for the world, however, Satellite Internet companies such as Starlink and OneWeb are deploying LEO (low earth orbit) satellites across the globe to deliver fast internet speeds from space. It can ensure that with just the help of portable satellite gateways, users can access the internet even in the most isolated or remote regions of the world.
Telecommunications will continue to serve as an integral part of changing the way we think and interact with new-age technology. Edge computing and blockchain are two elements that are going to be great levers for tech companies and governments to improve digital infrastructure and business processes. “But there’s one other thing that major countries have already started researching on”, Tharunika highlights, “and that’s 6G. After 5G networks, it will be the turn of 6G to show the world new possibilities.” Telecom industry experts across the world believe that 6G’s arrival would be between 2028-2030.
These rapid advancements are being adopted by various industries in order to sustain relevance in a connected world. Understanding the impact of telecommunications will enable the stakeholders to optimize future strategies and actions altogether.
