October 2017 saw no shortage of significant developments in the global telecom industry. In this monthly feature, we’ll take a look at some of the topics that got people talking on social media, as we continue to actively track this dynamic and fast-moving industry.

Blockbuster M&As Continue

As many experts have predicted, consolidation and collaboration are two of the most prevalent themes in the global ICT industry today. In a deal expected to close in Q1 of 2018, Cisco agreed to acquire unified communications specialist BroadSoft for $1.9 billion. This marks the network giant’s eighth acquisition of 2017. Sprint and T-Mobile are also expected to finalize a merger soon that would be a blockbuster deal and a game-changer for the industry as a whole.

The Race for 5G Heats Up

Chipmakers Intel and Qualcomm are both positioning themselves as the leader in developing chips to support 5G. While both are expected to conduct extensive trials of 5G this year, Qualcomm claims to have made the first 5G data call, eclipsing gigabit download speeds. Just how ready are operators for 5G? Ericsson conducted a survey of 50 executives to find out.

Don’t Forget About 4G, LTE

With the constant stream of articles and discussions surrounding the development and support of 5G, it can be easy to forget about existing networks. LTE still has great utility as well as the potential to continue its evolution and bring high speed connectivity to more rural areas. Similarly, the growth of OTT video platforms is resulting in more network investment in APAC.

Innovative Ideas for Smart Cities

Smart cities also remain a hot topic. An article in DatacenterDynamics explores how data centers that support the smart grid, but are independent from it could help jumpstart the push for actual smart cities. Meanwhile, Light Reading published an article about the steps New York City is taking to make itself smarter and more connected.

PTC’18 Draws Near

Our annual conference is approaching and as this year is the 40th Anniversary of PTC, we’ll be making the event bigger and better than ever before! In addition to CXO Keynote Talks, workshops, roundtables, and networking, PTC’18 will feature the first-ever PTC’18 Innovation Awards. Click here to see the complete program for the week and if you haven’t already registered, reserve your spot now!