So why the focus on smart technology on what was a broadband blog? I originally asked Theo to write a series exploring the evolution of markets at times of transition leading up to a look at our preparedness for AI and smart technology because I fear that as a society we may be drifting into a new age, allowing the consequences to wash over us.
At time of writing there are three articles, with at least two more to follow:
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- Clogs and Conspiracy Theories looking at past economic transformations
- Hello Hal, can you with me with AI? considering the risks and rewards of smart technology
- A Slice of Raspberry Pi digging into education reforms needs to ensure we benefit more than consume the future
So, why the focus on smart technology?
Over at Xpedium we are actively developing a set of technologies that are augmented by machine learning and AI techniques. Our approach from the outset has been to create a framework for our existing services that enables skilled telecoms people to harness their expertise where it really matters, removing the routine, boring stuff that machines are rather better at.
These tools should enable investors and operators to target investments smarter and be more efficient and agile while releasing their best people to shine. A boost for both operators and their investors.
This is the antithesis of the original industrial revolution, and was the central concern of the Luddites when experienced artisans were actively replaced by machinery rather with many skills lost.
I also suspect it’s the antithesis of the smart technology strategies of least a sizeable proportion of today’s organisations, seeking to replace rather than augment and enhance their best people.
Why did we take this approach?
It would naive at best to think that a piece of (today’s) technology could totally replace the experience and judgement gained by a skilled person over many years but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t do better if they were supported by smart technology.
At Xpedium, we’ve identified a number of areas that we believe are pinch points both for investors considering an opportunity and fibre operators seeking to scale their business as nations transition away from copper based services.
There simply aren’t enough skilled people in key roles to enable a national deployment in the kinds of timescales many countries are now considering.
Similarly, infrastructure investors are keen to support this migration but can find it challenging to pick the right opportunities when so many of the new fibre operators are non-traditional operators with nuanced market strategies.
Our services, backed by these new tools tools will help investors test the different market strategies and see which opportunities may present the best returns.
We will be making detailed announcements in the coming weeks and months, but our aim is to help both investors and operator make better decisions, quicker rather than replace their most skilled people.
