Future telecommunication directions and implications

This paper provides an overview of the primary trends in the enabling technologies underlying the telecommunications and information services industries and their future implications. Regardless of how the industry restructures, telecommunications and information services will continue to figure prominently in any discussions relating to how the developing information age will be kept tractable. As with time, much of the existing players' current lines of business will end up as commodity services, new approaches to the business will be needed. The likely key to meeting customer requirements will be the unbundling of both the physical network and its intelligence together with an emphasis on value-added services. Together, these will give telephone companies access to new revenue streams, streams they will likely require for future growth.