New services, increased capacity and the growing role of software in telecom networks further increase the vulnerability to data leaks and abuse. That’s why security and data encryption are such hot topics in this field.

Despite the high expectations surrounding it, the Internet of Things (IoT) would remain a fragmented database without well-equipped telcos. After some hesitation, companies are now becoming fully aware of the potential of this ecosystem of more than 10 billion connected devices. The first smart city is being developed while you read this. Unsurprisingly, blockchain technology will also give the telecom industry a boost with numerous applications, such as billing, identity control, smart contracts and flawless peer-to-peer connections between all those billions of ‘things’.