2017 has come to a close. From a record-breaking year in mergers and acquisitions to the proposed rollback of net neutrality in the US to the emergence of edge computing and the explosion of data and connected devices, the year saw no shortage of watershed events. In our final Month in Review of the year, we’ll take a look at which stories created the most buzz.
2017 Year in Review.
When it comes to reviewing some of the biggest headlines of 2017, M&As were front-page news early and often. Operators around the world also made significant progress in 5G trials. RCR Wireless News details some of the progress here. Telegeography published a series of interviews that provide a lot of insight on a number of industry factors, and we recommend you make time to check that out, here. While some focused on some of the big stories in 2017, Light Reading’s Mari Sibley chose to highlight some of the big events that did not happen in 2017.
2018 Predictions.
Many outlets and commenters published their take on what they predict we will see happen in the industry in 2018. From the continued development of hybrid IT to the volatile world of cryptocurrencies and fintech, there is sure to be just as many big stories in 2018 as there were in 2017. When it comes to satisfying the growing demand for content (and rapid delivery), FierceTelecom predicts higher demand for dark fiber. With edge computing on the rise and enterprises abandoning their on-premise data centers, Network World published a list of things to look for in the data center space (and owned up to some misses from last year).
PTC’18 Right Around the Corner.
Here at PTC, we are getting prepared for our annual conference. Taking place 21-24 January in Honolulu, it is our chance to host industry leaders from around the world and your chance to network and plan for the year to come in a beautiful and comfortable environment. This year is the 40th Anniversary celebration of PTC and with that in mind, we have a lot of exciting events and presentations on the schedule. From Highlighter presentations to Executive Insight Roundtables to the inaugural Innovation Awards Gala, it is going to be an exciting week for all involved. Be sure to view the complete program and get started planning your agenda here.
Digital Transformation in Focus.
With sights firmly set on the new year, digital transformation has taken center stage for many enterprises and IT leaders. Many agree that successful digital transformation requires the right business environment, while some feel that operators must do more and go further with their digital transformation efforts. One thing for sure is that digital transformation is pushing CSPs into a new era and that while technology is important, perhaps strategy is even more important for enterprises that undertake it.