The Evolution of Connectivity and Trends to Watch out for
Connectivity is the lifeblood of modern business, as few organisations would survive long without the facilities for seamless communication, data transfer, and digital operations. And, in the face of growing cybersecurity concerns and an increasing requirement for remote and mobile working capabilities in a post-Covid era, demand has never been greater for robust, flexible, and scalable connectivity solutions.
For this article we’ve dusted off our crystal ball to look into the immediate future of the next 12 months, to investigate how business broadband, mobile Wi-Fi and other connectivity solutions are likely to evolve throughout 2024, underscoring the need for businesses to stay up-to-date with all these developments to maintain their competitive edge.
A Recent History of Business Connectivity
Historically, business connectivity has revolved around structured, fixed networks with an emphasis on stability and security. Solutions like MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) and SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) dominated the landscape, offering reliable but often rigid frameworks. However, social change, accelerated by recent global events, has shifted the focus of many businesses towards more versatile and adaptable connectivity solutions.
At the same time, technological developments in Wi-Fi connection, business broadband speeds, and cloud computing, to name just a few, meant that organisations were better able to connect with mobile sales teams and staff at business events, and the concept of homeworking, as a realistically viable option, became a reality. But it was during Covid-19 that this became a matter of survival rather than preference, and through this period of necessity innovation flourished and society changed with it.
There has been a significant evolution from traditional network setups to more agile, cloud-based architectures, and – despite being encouraged to go back to ‘normal’ for the last couple of years – home/remote working has remained the ‘new norm’, one which has necessitated a shift in connectivity expectations and technology.
Emerging Connectivity Solutions in 2024
As we look out across the unknown visa of the year ahead, the discipline of business connectivity is poised to embrace a whole new suite of innovations, each promising to redefine the way businesses connect, communicate, and operate.
This leap forward is driven by the need to meet the increasingly complex demands of a digitally interconnected world, where agility, security, and efficiency are now as baseline a commercial need as paper for printers or pods for office coffee machines. From architectures that merge the best of networking and digital security to transformative mobile Wi-Fi technologies that promise unprecedented connectivity, the landscape is set for a significant shift.
As promised, here are just a few of the most exciting developments in the world of connectivity expected to drive change in 2024:
- Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
One of the most prominent trends to emerge in 2023 – that we fully expect to evolve and grow in 2024 – is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Because of the work habits of many employees, businesses place a premium on cloud services, which can cause issues for traditional network systems. SASE combines robust network security functions with agile Internet connection capabilities to support the dynamic, secure access needs of today’s distributed enterprises. For UK businesses, adopting SASE means not only improved efficiency and work location flexibility, but also enhanced security, crucial for protecting against ever more sophisticated cyber threats. - On-Demand Connectivity
This approach to managing business broadband and Internet connection resources enables organisations to dynamically adjust their bandwidth, connection points and data processing capabilities based on their immediate needs, representing a move towards a more agile, efficient and responsive solution. Essentially, the on-demand connectivity service model moves away from fixed, expensive, physical, network setups, to a solution that can adjust and scale as required, to respond to changing demands and employee locations. Dial your server resources up to handle a product launch or down in response to a quiet period in your business. - Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Connectivity
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency is the business mantra of the decade, seeking out and implementing more streamlined ways of working to save time, reduce waste, and increase productivity. In recent years there has been a move from systemisation to system-led streamlining, and with the growth of AI across a wide variety of business areas, it is now set to redefine network management and operations. In 2024 we are likely to see AI increasingly support, or even to take charge of, the optimising of resource allocation based on real-time data, predictive maintenance, and the personalisation of customer experiences. AI is set to transform the connectivity environment, leading to the potential for significant operational efficiencies. - Advances in Quantum Technology
Quantum technology is something that has been whispered out excitedly in the corridors of university campuses and research labs for years, but significant advances have been made, especially by the clever people over at IBM, and hopes are that in 2024 we may see innovations in quantum hardware and the first commercial use cases. But what’s all the quantum hype about? Quantum technology is set to revolutionise Internet connection efficiency and data security. A quantum computer’s processing power will make today’s technology look like an abacus and its ultra secure communication through quantum key distribution (QKD) is set to become a game changer for businesses operating in highly regulated markets or those dealing with sensitive data as it is theoretically immune to hacking. - 6G and Beyond
This is a little further off into the future than 2024, but the industry has not sat back after the launch of 5G: a consortium of global telecoms standards organisations are already looking towards working together on the next generation of global wireless systems. 6G may not be expected until the late 2020s to early 2030s, but this technology promises even higher speeds (potentially up to 100x faster than 5G), lower latency, and more reliable connections, enabling a new wave of digital innovation. Most importantly, it will provide the superhighway for more substantial data-heavy mobile systems, such as advanced AI solutions able to handle even more sophisticated tasks in real-time. Although it’s still on the relatively distant horizon, understanding the potential of 6G is crucial for long-term strategic business planning.
A Strategic Approach to Navigating the Connectivity Landscape
In the face of these evolving trends, businesses should be looking to develop a strategic approach to keep up with the changes that will transform the connectivity landscape around them.
This is likely to involve balancing the need for advanced connectivity for the competitive advantage it may offer with the cost considerations of such an investment, and preparing your organisation and its workforce for the probability of a shift towards more automated, AI-driven network management.
Conclusion
To look forward with confidence in your predictions for the future requires experience that’s rooted in a deep understanding of past trends, best practices, and current technologies.
2024 could well be a year of significant change. Unstable political and economic factors are likely to have an impact, though whether they turn out to be positive or negative influences is something we wouldn’t even attempt to predict, but connectivity technology is set for its next power boost.
As experts in our field, we keep a watchful eye on the trends that could transform our sector and, by extension, your business, ensuring that our strategies are not just responsive but predictive, to always offer best advice to our clients and support their growth goals. We carefully monitor the market for changes that could propel our clients forward or leave them trailing, and through our articles we’ll look to keep you informed about the opportunities they offer and the threats they pose.
If you would like to find out more about Connectivity Solutions and these technological trends for 2024, feel free to get in touch, we’d be happy to discuss this with you.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3795 6880
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