Digital and telecom industry is poised for a promising growth by generating employment opportunities in the coming years, says Prof Abhijeet Chirputkar

India’s digital profile and footprint is one of the fastest growing in the world. At the current pace of digitisation and digitalisation, it is estimated that the country’s digital economy has the potential to reach one trillion USD by 2025. India is the world’s second-largest telecommunications market in terms of telecommunication subscriptions, app downloads, and internet subscriptions.

It is estimated that the telecom industry may contribute 8.2 per cent to India’s GDP by 2020. There is no doubt that the digital and telecom industry is poised for a promising growth and will generate massive employment opportunities.

If you want to pursue a lucrative career in this sector, an MBA in Digital and Telecom Management will give you a strong head start. It is a niche programme that equips you with techno-managerial skills and knowledge that meet the needs and expectations of this industry. Let’s take a look at eight reasons why you should consider a career with an MBA in digital and telecom management:

Digital and Communication Infrastructure

Digital and communication infrastructure is being seen as a major policy initiative to transition India to a digitally-powered nation. It is also expected to change the face of rural India and promote sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.

 The country will witness huge investments in digital and communication infrastructure over the next two decades. Needless to say, this will boost the hiring of professionals with these skill sets.

Digital Transformation in various sectors

Digital transformation is taking place in various sectors and industries such as manufacturing, aviation, automotive, banking and financial services, hospitality, infrastructure, entertainment and defence. These industries are also relying heavily on digital and communication technologies to fulfil their digital communication needs. The cross-industry alliances between telecom and other sectors is a huge opportunity for both employers and job seekers.

Digital Analytics and Data Analytics

The unprecedented data consumption is drastically changing the way the world operates. Organisations are looking at mining social, machine, and transactional data to convert their business objectives into measurable outcomes to drive their bottom line. About 90 per cent of organisations and business professionals believe that data and analytics are key to their digital transformation initiatives, and they will need data professionals to leverage it.

Digital Risk Management

While digitisation brings immense benefits, it is also prone to operational risks. Routine internal audits of the operations and adherence to regulatory standards can minimise these risks considerably. There will be a demand for digital risk managers who can assess these risks in advance, and proactively deploy robust risk-mitigation strategies.

Cyber Security, Data Privacy and Forensics

In the past two years, cybersecurity and data privacy issues have resulted into losses worth trillions of dollars to organisations across the world. The companies across the world has witnessed their networks being compromised, customer accounts being hacked, and data being stolen. Thus it has created demand for professionals who can leverage intelligence gathering and forensic tools to apply adaptive countermeasures to risks and threats.

Motivating Techno-Entrepreneurship

Technological innovation and disruption have become key strategic drivers in the business world. Organisations are encouraging young minds — both their employees and college students to develop advanced technology-led products, services, and solutions. The students who are passionate about technology and entrepreneurship can develop useful skills from an MBA in Digital and Telecom Management.

Research and Development

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended the creation of a Telecom Research and Development Fund (TRDF) with an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore to promote research, innovation, standardisation, design, testing, certification, and manufacturing of indigenous telecom equipment. There will be an increase in demand for professionals to carry out R&D in voice, calls, and data for seamless working of telecom networks and devices.

New Business Models and Disruptive Technologies

Digital and communication technologies such as 5G, Next Generation Network (NGN), cloud computing, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), augmented reality, and virtual reality are shaping various sectors.  Organisations are capitalising on these technologies and adopting new business models to enhance their digital capabilities, personalise customer experiences, and create unique product offerings.

Digital communication and telecom sector is very dynamic, which means that new trends and practices will evolve in the coming years. It will also be driven by mergers and acquisitions among operators to enhance their synergies. In short, there are exciting times for this sector ahead. MBA in Digital and Telecom Management will help you fast-track your career in this sector.

The writer is Director, Symbiosis Institute of Digital and Telecom Management