The relentless demand for better and more affordable broadband is threatening to overwhelm telecom operators' networks, as highlighted by industry leaders. The solution lies in adopting next-generation disaggregated networks, but implementation remains a challenge.
Findings from RtBrick’s ‘State of Disaggregation’ Report based on a survey of 200 senior telecom decision-makers across the US, UK and Australia reveal that, despite recognising the need for change, operators grapple with lack of leadership support (93%), operational complexities (42%), and a lack of skilled personnel (38%). The result is an industry that knows what to do and has the budget to do so but struggles to execute.
Increased bandwidth demand is a pressing issue, with a staggering 87% of operators anticipating a rise in the speed of broadbrand customers demand by 2030. Likewise, 79% say customers expect their costs will rise, showing willingness to pay. However, nearly half lack confidence in meeting these demands affordably, while 84% affirm that current architectures do not match consumers' expectations for faster, cheaper broadband.
Pravin S Bhandarkar, CEO of RtBrick, emphasises that "decision-making" is the bottleneck, not capacity. Disaggregated networks are crucial for agility and scalability, meeting modern consumer needs.
Operators are eager to invest in disaggregation, with 94% having intentions to act within five years. However, despite overwhelming ambition, execution lags. Only 1 in 20 are actively deploying, while others remain in "exploration" or "planning" stages. Front-runners like AT&T and Deutsche Telekom are already deploying at scale demonstating faster rollouts and increased operational control.
Leaders also claim to use AI in network operations despite 93% of leaders admitting that rich, real-time data is necessary to harness AI's potential. This necessitates more open, modular architecture.
According to Zara Squarey, without modern architectures enabling real-time data, disaggregation risks delays.
Operators express high expectations from disaggregation. Predicted benefits include:
- Increased operational automation (54%)
- Enhanced supply chain resilience (54%)
- Improved energy efficiency (51%)
- Lower purchase and operational costs (48%)
- Reduced vendor lock-in (33%)
Operators demand traditional vendors provide disaggregated options within three years, while industry leaders are already capitalising on the opportunity, urging others to follow suit.
