| SCS Telco Chapter: Welcoming and Embracing Convergence |
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| In: Asian Channels October 2005 | |
| Written by Shanti Anne Morais | |
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Times are certainly changing. The ever dynamic info-communications industry in Asia is experiencing a convergence between traditional telco engineering and the IT industry. Just 10 years ago, telephones were basic operating systems with not much IT influence. Things have certainly rushed forward with the telco industry rapidly moving into the IT scene, and with technologies such as VOIP playing a crucial role. In addition, thanks to the development of broadband and wireless technologies, future multi-media services will be available to users at the office, users on the move as well as home users. The Next Generation Networks and modern multi-media Telco platforms offer these services using server-based solutions; which are more traditionally seen as IT-related technologies.
"Basically, what this means for the Telco industries is that our engineers now have to be IT specialists," explains Peter Cook, chairman Telco chapter, SCS. Launched approximately 6 months ago, the Singapore Computer Society’s Telco Chapter will provide an essential link between the traditional systems engineering practices of SCS and the more traditional Telco network engineering.The 3 founders of the Chapter are StarHub’s Cook, SingTel’s Mark Chong and Khoo See Kiang from M1. Yes, they are from Singapore’s “big three”, but Cook stresses that they are careful to ensure that the Chapter does not become the “commercial running” of these three players. The approach is simple and understandable – start from the dominant Telcos and widen it out to the service and network vendors. In fact, the Chapter is going all-out in holding its recruitment drives. In early November, it is planning its first networking night and Cook says this is “open to all.” In addition, the team is planning to hold some infocomm training sessions, targeted at non-Telco members. This will probably take place some time in December. The Chapter also plans to create more services and will also promote services such as 3G networks. Cook admits that the team has a lot of work cut-out for them and some challenges to overcome, the key one being the current perception that the SCS is an IT-only organization. “This is not surprising because the SCS has been around since 1967. Yes it will be a challenge getting the Telco engineering community to recognize the benefits to join the SCS, but we are all committed to getting the word out and convincing these people to become members,” says Cook.One approach, holding workshops within their own teams to promote the benefits of the Chapter and the eschewing the scope it allows for personal and professional development as well as advancement. At the same time and just as importantly, the Chapter hopes that IT specialists will also get the opportunity to have an understanding of the Telco industry. Bearing in mind the synergies between the Telco and infocomm industries, it certainly is about time that Telco Chapter has its own voice in the industry. It may be the early days of the Chapter but with three stalwarts at its helm, a large number of smaller entities and an equally huge number of supply organizations who have set up base in Singapore, the best is sure to come. |
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