African Petrochemicals Edition 16.3

IPP & Renewables
KEEPING UP WITH INDUSTRY CHANGES IS THE ONLY WAY TO MANAGE
CONNECTIVITY EXPENDITURE
By Vishal Barapatre, Chief Technology Officer at In2IT Technologies
The connectivity space has changed
drastically in the last decade mainly due
to the decreasing cost of connectivity
year on year. While the cost of bandwidth
continues to come down, the stability
and security of connectivity available
to businesses have increased. Thanks to
changes in technology from Leased Lines,
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
and Internet through to SD-WAN and
dedicated connectivity with broadband,
and now the evolution from 4G to 5G
- businesses no longer have to choose
between speed and capacity when it
comes to commercial connectivity. Soon
5G will be the new enterprise standard,
making it essential to pay attention to
this evolution and invest in connectivity
that is modern, relevant and capable, or
risk being left behind as other businesses
power on ahead, fuelled by connectivity
that matches their digital ambitions.
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The new speed of business
As more businesses take to the cloud and
explore the opportunities in the Internet
of Things services and technologies,
there is a growing pressure to provide the
connectivity that can handle such varied,
intensive demands. One of the key trends
influencing the speed at which we can do
business is the move to the cloud. To get
there, organisations require robust, secure
connectivity in order to take advantage of
modern cloud architecture that requires
enhanced integration between apps in order
to execute their functions.
Another factor reinforcing the need for
better connectivity a rapidly growing mobile
workforce - according to Strategy Analytics’
‘Global Mobile Workforce Forecast Update
2017-2023’, the world’s mobile workforce will
swell to 1.88 billion people and account for
43.3% of the workforce total in 2023. In order
to accommodate this shifting workforce
dynamics, enterprises will need to establish
secure, stable connectivity in order to evolve
their technology consumption to become
more open and agile.
Investing in connectivity wisely
While there are many connectivity options
that businesses can invest in today, cost
still remains a major concern for most,
especially during an economic slump.
However, given that business today is near
impossible without Internet connectivity,
it’s important to bear in mind that it’s not
a luxury, it’s an absolute necessity. For
example, we have seen organisations move
from MPLS to Internet-based connectivity,
effectively cutting costs by as much as 50%.
Furthermore, businesses now have greater
choice, and for global companies, it’s now
possible for each branch location to choose
a provider that offers the best services at
an affordable price and delivers on their
promises.
It’s a digital evolution not a revolution
For employees that do their best work
outside of the office, 4G and 5G now offer
the best flexibility and choice for businesses,
especially smaller organisations, as there
is the added benefit of choosing when
to use the service, effectively providing
connectivity on-demand. SD-WAN still has
an important role to play in reducing costs,
improving security, enhancing agility and
help build a platform for future technology
innovation, because it is still one of the most
effective ways to connect business network
endpoints, like branch offices and data
centres, creating adaptive networks to suit
specific organisational needs while lowering
operational costs, gradually shifting IT models
toward consuming architecture, applications
and business functionality as a service.
The cost of ensuring sustainability and
relevance
While the biggest cost associated with
connectivity today is the recurring annual
cost of bandwidth along with operational
spend, both expenditures are critical
to secure sustainability and relevance.
Ultimately, the best financial outcome is
only possible when companies do their due
diligence and plan ahead when investing in
connectivity. Additionally, organisations need
to remember that speed of the connectivity
alone is insufficient for sustainability, and
thus they should place just as much emphasis
on security measures that will both protect
and enable every connection that the
business requires.
Contacts
Vishal Barapatre
In2IT Technologies
Tel: 011 054 6900
Email: vishal@in2ittech.com