While we might associate telecommunications with old-fashioned landlines, the truth is that this part of the information sector has become hugely advanced and is used across a range of industries. Radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and the internet are just some examples.
What are telecommunications?
Telecommunications, also known as ‘telecom’, revolves around the sending and receiving of messages via an electrical device. Certainly! Here are several methods to achieve this:
- Voice
- Video
- Internet
- Data
There are four key components in telecommunications, including a transmitter, which switches the original message into a special code. This is followed by a channel. This changes the signal for connection to the line. Then, the line (or route) is what the signal travels along until it reaches the receiver, which eventually decodes the signal and converts it into the original signal.
Working in telecommunications is a surprisingly versatile career path, as there are numerous roles you can work towards. Here’s what you need to know.
Careers in Telecommunications
If you have good communication skills, and you’re comfortable speaking to new people on the phone, a customer service representative might be the ideal role. They work with customers to address any issues they might be experiencing. This could look like redirecting them to the correct department, troubleshooting or issuing refunds, depending on the reason for their call. Alternatively, you could look into becoming a telecommunications operator. You’ll generally answer the phone, direct outgoing calls and take messages on behalf of a company.
If you prefer digging deeper and doing technical work, then a computer programmer could be better suited to you. You’ll learn how to use JavaScript and other programming languages to create programs that address business needs. These could range from automation to making customer interfaces. A data analyst performs a similar role, collecting and interpreting large amounts of data. Often, this data is used to inform company efficiencies and other solutions.
If you’re looking for manual work, you might want to consider becoming a cable installer or a telecommunications technician. Between them, they help to install and maintain cable and electric lines. This is typically done outdoors, which means you need to be comfortable working in a range of weather conditions.
Reasons to Consider a Job in Telecoms
In essence, working in telecommunications means you’ll be working on or with cutting-edge technology, whatever sector you’re specializing in. It’s also thought that it holds a lot of potential in the realm of ESG commitments, which is a growing area.
You could be connecting power products in your day-to-day to enable a stable power supply, or analyzing huge batches of data that could improve the operations within a company. Regardless, you’ll pick up transferable skills that will help you transfer from company to company.
With the Internet of Things (IoT) making waves in the world of technology and electronics, it means that there is plenty of scope for professionals in telecommunications to adopt some of this new technology. Other areas of telecommunications that people can specialize in include augmented reality and wireless networks.
