Deploying full fibre connections to customer premises has long been a challenge for service providers.
These challenges can include infrastructure costs. Building a fibre optic network is expensive, with providers needing to lay many miles of cable, often causing unwanted disruption to the local population with the necessary construction work. The initial capital expenditure can be significant and take years to recoup.

Another challenge is increased competition in the market, with new entrants especially facing intense competition. Established providers might lower prices or offer incentives to retain customers, making it challenging for newcomers to gain market share. With pressures on the cost of living, customers are attracted by cheaper offers and the same time as expecting increasingly fast and reliable connections.

Yet another issue facing service providers is technological obsolescence. Even though full-fibre connections are relatively future-proof, providers must continually upgrade and maintain their networks to keep pace with changing customer expectations, traffic growth, security concerns, and emerging technologies in the ever-evolving telecommunications industry.

5G networks or even satellite internet are also seen as viable alternatives to fibre to the premises. Many service providers in the future will provide customers with these alternative connections with 5G fixed wireless access offering almost fibre-like speeds without the need to put cables to customer properties.

PTT has a wide range of courses covering fixed and wireless networks. Organisations can be assured that PTT courses can provide their staff with up-to-date content on modern communications networks, enabling them keep on top of ever evolving technologies and customer expectations.

The telecommunications industry has gone through many changes in its history from telegraphic messages in the 1830s to high-speed access to the Internet in the 2020s. But the rate of change from a technological viewpoint has significantly increased in this century.

Mobile communications in particular has been subject to major changes in capabilities and infrastructure. The second generation of mobile systems were first deployed in the 1990s while the third generation came in the early 2000s. Now operators already have plans to retire their earlier systems and replace them with 4G and 5G networks. For example, Digi Communications has recently announced it has shut down its 3G network in Romania. The UK plans to phase out 2G and 3G by 2033 but some UK operators including Vodafone and EE has revealed plans to phase out 3G by 2024.

Meanwhile, TDC NET in Denmark has implemented its first Standalone 5G (5G SA) mobile service having launched a non-standalone service three years ago. Vodafone launched its 5G SA service in several UK cities in June of this year.

5G SA does not rely on a neighbouring 4G (LTE) network and can therefore provide the eco-system required for new innovative services.

PTT offers a range of online courses that will keep you up-to-date with telecoms technological changes including those covering 4G and 5G mobile systems.

For individual users, to celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are offering 30% off our bundle of 5 online courses covering mobile and wireless networks and services.

One of the main challenges for telecommunication service providers is ensuring that their staff have the necessary skills to effectively manage their networks.

Some 60% of the engineering workforce in the industry is currently over the age of 50 and will soon be nearing retirement. With there already being an acute labour shortage in the field, telecoms providers will increasingly need to backfill these technical roles with a new generation of engineers equipped with the talent and skills required to maintain and build increasingly complex and modern communications networks.

Addressing the skills gap in the telecommunications industry has its own unique challenges. Telecommunications is subject to rapid shifts due to market trends, regulations, and technological breakthroughs. This makes it difficult for companies to predict the exact skills they will need in the future. For this reason, ongoing training and re-skilling is necessary for all within the workforce.

PTT has for over 30 years provided up-to-date training for telecommunications engineers. Whether it’s for new entrants to the industry, or re-skilling existing staff, PTT has a wide range of courses covering communications technology.
PTT courses can be used as a standalone training solution to give staff required theoretical knowledge of telecommunications subjects or can be used as part of an apprenticeship scheme.

To discuss your training needs and to find out how PTT can address the skills gap within your organisation, please contact us.