Telecom News: A Glimpse at Telecom’s Ever-Changing Future -Training More Critical than Ever

Telecom expert Andrew Seybold looks ahead to industry changes.

A telecom industry expert gave CWA local leaders a crash course in cutting-edge technology, discussing how the coming convergence of the wireline network and high-speed wireless networks is likely to play out.

Andrew Seybold, speaking at the Dallas bargaining council meetings in November, said AT&T and the other wireless operators are laying plans to upgrade their current 3G (3rd generation) networks to 4G, or 4th generation.

AT&T and Verizon plan to upgrade to a 4G wireless technology known as "Long Term Evolution" or LTE. Building the LTE network will require large investments in new radios, significant amounts of fiber optics and new IP infrastructure. Switches will be replaced with routers.

According to Seybold, AT&T has "already made great strides in converting its data back-end to IP." Although expensive to build, LTE will cut data delivery costs by half and improve AT&T's ability to manage networks and services.

Seybold expects that AT&T will not fully roll out LTE until 2015 but "there's a lot of life left in 3G systems" and speed and capacity upgrades will continue between now and then. As wireless networks become bigger and faster, voice, data and video will be passed between wired and wireless networks.

Equipment for customers is changing as well. "Femtocells" work as mini cell towers inside houses, extending a wireless network's coverage and capacity. Like wi-fi routers, femtocells need a broadband connection via DSL, cable modem, fiber or eventually high-speed wireless.

Unlike wi-fi routers, they carry voice as well as data and use licensed spectrum, meaning they will work with only one company's wireless service. The femtocell sends incoming and outgoing cellular calls through the broadband connection, reducing the load on the wireless network and giving customers one more reason to cut off their landlines.

As a result of these changes, today's workforce will have to become more conversant with IP, routers, soft switches, and software-controlled networks. Ultimately, the changes will mean fewer central offices with less equipment and possibly fewer field techs, Seybold said.

CWA members' experience running an extremely reliable network will still be needed, but AT&T may try to recruit new employees who have computer rather than traditional telecom skills. Training on every aspect of the new work is critical.

"The 'real' convergence which will have an impact on (CWA technicians) moving forward is when these services start sharing a common back-end, common transport, and the networks become 'smart' enough to provide services to the customer no matter where they are," Seybold said.

The effect of technological change on service reps and other work groups is harder to gauge. Continued product integration will further reduce the distinctions between Mobility and core sales and service.

CWA leaders said that while AT&T will continue to push for automation, self-service and possibly outsourcing to cut costs, CWA will be pushing just as hard for members to have advanced training and access to all new jobs.

(For more information on online training opportunities go to www.cwanett.org.)