Intelligence in Communication Systems, Evolution, Trends and the Business Opportunities

This paper reports the findings of recent studies on the impact of intelligence in modern/future-oriented telecom networks. The ICT/ telecommunication market evolution and future trends are presented. Subsequently, the business opportunities are also discussed. The main drivers for the evolution as well as market success are mobility, security, and intelligence in the network. Though the global economy is still far from recovery, analysts expect the world telecom market in 2004 to exceed 1,000 billion Euros, with an impressive annual growth rate of between 3% and 4%. Current security threats and security fiascos reveal the fact that, in spite all innovative and advanced security solutions offered by renowned companies, the security market is still quite promising. There are big business opportunities for mature solutions involving intrusion detection systems, fire walls, antivirus systems, encryption and secure mobility. The evolution towards mobility is currently passing from third-generation to fourth-generation, milli-wave lAN and HAPS solutions in the next decade. Considering the technological evolution and the current trends, the telecommunication market will present excellent opportunities for intelligent solutions and products that provide maximum bandwidth with optimal mobility, convergence between mobile and fixed networks, connectivity on demand, and finally build, transfer, optimize, manage and operate the network.