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- 2 May 2021
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This reason alone, where the transmission of information to and fro is ever vital in an increasingly fast-paced world, is why the telecommunications industry ranks among the foremost sectors in the world. Allreviews provides you with reviews and vital information such as those of telecom companies in the industry.
But before we delve deeper, let’s have a brief look at telecommunication and what it entails.
What is Telecommunications?
This simply refers to the transfer of data by making use of different mediums (technologies) such as radio, television, internet, satellites, telephones and others.
The need for communication over a long distance has continued to spur humans over many centuries into searching for effective and efficient methods of making information transfer possible. And this has led to improvement and innovations in the field. Now, the world has moved through the gears from smoke signals, drum beats, horns, beacons, telegraphs to the use of electromagnetic radiation and electrical cable into making information transfer more efficient.
Who Invented What?
The 20th century was groundbreaking as per the telecommunication industry is concerned. The era saw massive inventions that shaped how information is been transferred and thus, became the bedrock for further innovative means in the field. Some of the most notable inventions include:
- The invention of the telegraph by Samuel Morse and Charles Wheatstone.
- The invention of radio transmissions by the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics winner, Gulilmo Marconi.
- The invention of the radio by Lee de Forest and Edwin Armstrong.
- The invention of the telephone by Antonio Meucci and Graham Bell
- The invention of television by Vladmir K. Zworykin, John Logie Baird and Philo Farnsworth.
Chronological Development of Telecommunication
- 1792: The French engineer Claude Chappe established the first static visual telegraphy system (semaphore line).
- 1837: Sir William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone demonstrated the first commercial electrical telegraph.
- 1849: Paul Julius Reuter commenced a pigeon service to convey vital information about stocks between Aaechen and Brussels. Although this was not the earliest use of homing pigeons, this particular event is notable for its sheer short-term improvisation to remedy a loophole in the telegram system.
- 1866: The first transatlantic telegraph cable was achieved.
- 1876: Alexander Bell legally claimed the rights to the telephone invention.
- 1878-1879: The Bell Telephone Company began commercial telephone services
- 1894: The beginning of wireless telegraphy via radio.
- 1925: Edward S. Rogers Sr. founded Rogers Vacuum Tube Company (Toronto, Canada) to sell batteryless radios.
- 1927: CFRB (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), the first all-electric radio station in the world was established.
- 1947: Bell Labs was the venue for the invention of the first transistor.
- 1959: The MOSFET (metal-oxide-silicon field-effect transistor) which is the bedrock of most modern technologies was manufactured by Mohamed M. Atalla and Dawon Kahng.
- 1983: The first interconnection of computers in Canada which involved 20 universities was initiated by the University of Guelph by a team comprising Bob McQueen, Kent Percival and Peter Jasper-Fayer.
- 1990s: The wireless revolution was born. This saw the advent of technologies like cellular networks, portable computers, laptops and mobile phones.
The Basic Elements of Telecommunication
A typical telecommunication system comprises of three major divisions:
- Transmitter: This accepts certain information and transforms it into a signal
- Transmission Medium: This is a physical pathway through which the signal is conveyed.
- Receiver: This refers to the medium that accepts the conveyed signal and changes it back for the recipient’s easy assimilation.
The Telecommunications Industry
The telecommunications industry, an arm of information and communication technology, comprises all telecommunication companies and internet service providers.
This industry has led to the continuous development of communication mediums. Messaging, video streaming, emailing, voice calls, and internet networking are some of the notable means by which the telecom industry generates revenue.
The industry also has an indisputable presence in other industries. It finds applications in the economic sector, where it provides mediums for growth, hosting of businesses (online ventures) and brings customers and service providers closer through the provision of effective communication means. The entertainment industry isn’t left out. Television, radio and the internet have been the medium through which movies, music and other programs are brought closer to the masses.
The increase in smartphone users globally also means easy access to the internet which in turn provides more jobs and revenue in the industry. In Canada alone, it is estimated that 86% of the population possess smartphones.
The Societal Impact of the Telecom Industry
The impact of the telecommunication industry has increased over the decades as more and more innovative ways of conveying and consuming information are been fashioned. Below, we take a look at some of these impacts.
- Economic Impact
The telecommunication industry has proven to be an immense tool in the growth of several small commercial establishments. The use of the internet as a medium to run businesses successfully is a good example.
In turn, prospective customers use the same mediums to reach out to order or purchase goods and services from these establishments.
Another notable example is its impact in Canada. The industry has been proven to contribute $74.5 billion annually to Canada’s economy. - Social Impact
Man’s desire to keep in touch with family and friends no matter the distance has not only led to developments in the telecom industry but has allowed the sector to display its relevance in our daily lives. Nowadays, the presence of online social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, have made it possible to reach out to people all over the globe and made the dissemination of information quite effective. - Cultural Impact
Through telecommunications, the entertainment industry found rigid roots. Music and film have been made popular and accessible through television, radio and mobile internet in the comfort of homes. This has significantly eliminated the necessity of having to visit a cinema, video or music store.
Telecom Companies
These are companies that employ various digital mediums to transfer information universally. Telecom companies comprise internet service providers and network operators who provide wireless, telephone and internet services to users.
Telecommunications Service Provider
Telecommunications service provider includes companies that provide mobile wireless communication and telephone services.
Internet Service Providers
These are outfits that make available services that influence the use of the internet. These services include web hosting, internet access, domain name and others.
In other words, internet service providers serve as the personnel who make a user’s access to the internet a possibility. You can check out How to Find the Best Internet Providers in Canada for more information about Canadian internet providers.
Streaming Services
Streaming services are online services that include the provision of data to a client by a streaming service provider. This is made possible through a subscription to the service company. These services could be shows, educational programs, movies, sports, or other forms of entertainment that are of interest to the public.
Examples of streaming service providers include Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max. You can read up Effects of Reviews on Streaming Services in Canada to have more information about the streaming service trend in Canada.
Reviews and the Telecommunication Industry
In every sector, customer satisfaction is key to growth and development. There exists a constant desire to gain maximum utility when patronizing one company or another. The telecom industry is not exempted from this seeming customer domineering attitude.
Thus, service providers in all subsectors of the telecom industry are more than ever, concerned about meeting consumers’ demand for more efficient service provision. And these companies are aware that once they can step up their game, more consumers would be attracted to them.
But then, not all platforms stick to this meek ideology. Some look to deceptive means to attract customers just to remain in business. This can occur through bogus advertisements, presentation of mouth-watering incentives, bonuses and reduction in service rates.
This is where reviews come in. These reviews, which are credible accounts or information provided by experts or customers who have had experiences with certain service providers, affords a prospective customer with a means of knowing where to pitch his/her tent or otherwise.
These reviews are available online on specific review platforms or a section of a service provider’s site. Favourable reviews will likely increase patronage for a certain service, while a negative one might lead to low patronage. Therefore, it is up to these telecom service providers to up the ante when it comes to quality and efficiency in service delivery.
Why Reviews Are Important in the Telecom Industry
The following are some reasons why reviews are important in the telecom industry:
- Review helps consumers to gain concrete information about telecom service providers.
- They help to broaden knowledge about what some services and the companies who offer them are all about.
- They help consumers to decide which services would probably meet their taste.
- They help to bring to light loopholes/anomalies present in some services.
- They help consumers to choose the best telecom service providers available.
- They help service providers to take note of what areas in their operations need to be addressed.
Judging from the above, it is advised that both prospective consumers and telecom service providers should make good use of reviews. Whereas such help consumers not to fall prey to bad service providers, they help service providers to focus on making their services more credible and efficient.
By so doing, the telecommunication industry can bridge the gap between service provision and customer satisfaction. In the end, if properly utilized, it could be a win-win situation for all.