Open, interoperable fixed and mobile telecom networks are the result
of systematic ways of working with open standards and clear interfaces.
This is the way the industry has traditionally operated - with great
success. Telecom as an interoperable, seamless service is taken for
granted in most parts of the world.
But a newcomer - the internet - has entered the arena, changing the rules of the game.
The rapidly growing market impact of the internet presents the telecom
industry with great opportunities, but also with some challenges that
have to be met.
How
does one handle the emerging world of internet-inspired services where
the rules are different, where proprietary systems are competing with
standardized solutions, and for which there are numerous open as well
as de facto standards? Another challenge is how to capture the
creativity and support services that are created in this open
environment.
Building on the experience gained from
telecom's proven ways of working with supporting regulations ensures
interoperability and sticks to the goal of universal services and
communications for all. In this way, and only in this way, can the
industry achieve the huge volumes and low prices that will benefit end
users, operators, and service and content providers - and indeed, the
whole of society.
The internet calls for new roles and business opportunities, for both
new and established players. The combination of the internet's
creativity and telecom's scalability and efficiency has enormous
potential.
Original source: Ericsson White Papers - http://www.ericsson.com/technology/whitepapers/industry_evolution/index.shtml