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IT is essential to the future success of any telecommunications provider. Any new product or service requires vast IT support from inception to testing, customer trials, and the ongoing support through its life-cycle. It also underpins the network infrastructure that delivers services to the consumer.
Telecommunications providers have to constantly diversify and broaden their service offerings to remain competitive in a highly agile environment. Typically, a telecoms provider might now provide mobile services, broadband, traditional fixed line telephony as well as branching out into the emerging areas of IP Television and Video on Demand.
Sitting alongside the service providers are the high-tech firms that provide infrastructure and hardware to support all the services, including development of handsets, switching devices and routing systems.
Mobile providers are merging with internet service providers and cable television operators because combined offerings are more attractive in a rapidly developing marketplace. You should keep an eye on these developments as they will be good indicators of the way the sector is shaping up.
Newer applications have traditionally driven higher bandwidth requirements. Dial-up speeds of 56kb are now practically unheard of and the ‘original’ broadband speeds of 1Mb are now deemed far too slow. Higher speeds are essential for the delivery of technology such as IPTV, voice over IP and Video on Demand.
There is a wide variety of roles for graduates ranging from research and project management to software development. Telecoms is not just about field engineers anymore – there is the need for individuals who can develop, sell, support and maintain the IT systems as well as for individuals who can guide and support the direction of the business.
Most employers require a minimum of a 2.1 and IT-related degrees are generally preferred, with proven software engineering and development skills such as Java, HTML, Haskell, VB, Python, Perl 5, Maple, XML, Oracle, Linux and Unix. However, some roles are project management focused so business-related degrees are also applicable.
In areas of telecoms relating to hardware and devices, a physics degree or electronic engineering degree will be essential.
Working in telecoms will almost certainly require a degree of mobility. This is a very fast-paced environment and you will need to be able to react quickly and work well under pressure. In five years’ time you could be anywhere from managing large scale IT projects, managing a large group of software developers or working with external clients to determine and deliver their requirements – the opportunities to drive your career forward are endless.
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