Telecommunications has changed our lifestyle completely and has had a significant impact on how society functions. We can now communicate with people from different corners of the world in real-time, without any delays. Our current network is a work of several decades and involves thousands of telecommunication towers, an intricate web of cabling, and sophisticated antennas. All of these systems require regular maintenance and upgrades as communications technologies improve. Here’s a look at some of the most significant advantages of telecommunications:
1. Impact on Personal Communications
A hundred years ago, it would be nearly impossible for a person living in Japan to communicate with a family member in the UK quickly and effectively. They would have to rely on post to carry letters or limit their conversations to short telegraph messages. Telecommunications has changed this completely, allowing people to communicate in real-time without any delays.
This has had a massive impact on personal communications. It allows couples to flourish in long-distance relationships, lets people befriend like-minded individuals from different countries, allows distant families to stay in touch, and more.
2. Flexibility at Work
Rapid real-time communication affects how people work and how companies operate. Many modern businesses allow employees to telecommute or work from home. Companies also have a bigger hiring pool and can easily employ talent from overseas. You can carry out video conferences without asking executives to travel. Teams from different branches of a company can work together on a single project without communication issues.
Flexibility has boosted productivity and allowed companies to make more profit. Even small, at-home businesses can now develop a national or global customer base. It is easier to start a small business and run it from home because of sophisticated telecommunications technologies.
3. Impact on Entertainment
A few hundred years ago, people had to visit theatres for plays and attend live concerts for movies. Telecommunications technology expanded the world of entertainment considerably. It introduced to the radio, television, portable music players, and then the internet. Today, people have access to all kinds of entertainment at their fingertips due to communications technologies.
Movie buffs and television program lovers can access all the content they need through platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Google Play. Avid readers have access to millions of books through platforms like Kindle, Kobo, Audible, etc. Music lovers only need to download a streaming service app or find MP3 files of their favorite songs. All of this is made possible due to telecommunications technology.
4. Information Sharing
Telecommunication’s most significant impact has been on information sharing. The internet gives people access to all the information they need with a simple search. They can learn new skills, research products, investigate legal matters, and even get formal education online. Many universities now offer fully online courses that people from all over the world can participate in with very little investment.
Easy access to information has also made people more aware of different cultures, conflicts, and socio-economic concerns. It has allowed people to develop informed opinions on various matters and take up activism in causes they believe in. People are also able to better support individuals in disadvantaged positions or spread awareness about different socio-economic issues.
Telecommunications has a few disadvantages as well. People don’t communicate face-to-face as often. They don’t engage in physical activities and sports for entertainment as often as they should. Work is more isolating and demanding because of telecommunication technology. That has lead to a collapse of the work-life barrier. There’s a lot of misinformation on the internet as well. Despite this, the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to this technology. It has improved our quality of life significantly.
