"New media formats are expanding and diversifying the telecom industry"

Yuki Shuto is the Asia Pacific TMT Industry Leader H and Chief Strategy and Innovations Officer of Deloitte Consulting Japan, and Peeyush Vaish is the TMT Industry Leader for Deloitte South Asia.

With expertise in semiconductors, new technologies, cloud, and sustainability, the two industry veterans provided an enriching global perspective on the telecom, Satcom, and broadcasting sectors. They also shared insights into cloud sovereignty, data security, supply chain challenges, and the impact of new media formats on consumer behaviour. Excerpts from their interaction with Shubhendu Parth.

How would you describe the telecom, satcom, and broadcasting trends in the Asia Pacific region?

Yuki Shuto (YS): The telecommunications industry is advancing its efforts toward sustainability. Key initiatives include phasing out copper lines and 3G networks, transitioning communication construction vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), and adopting 5G wireless equipment with energy-saving features like a 'snooze button. Notably, Singapore has already discontinued its copper wire network, and plans are underway to do the same in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand by 2024.

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and Direct-to-Device (D2D) technologies are gaining attention in the satellite communication sector. NTN has been used as a complementary solution for mobile communication, particularly in areas difficult to reach with traditional terrestrial mobile networks, and as an emergency contact method during disasters. D2D, a newer technology, enables direct satellite communication with smartphones, promising widespread future adoption despite current deployment challenges.

For private use, both B2B and B2C applications are being considered. IoT remote sensing and remote operations are expected to progress significantly, particularly in industries with activities in geographically challenging locations, such as logistics, maritime, construction, and energy.