WCA March 2017

Telecom news

rebound in 2017, fuelled by better security, new functions, improved performance, and device refresh schedules. More than half (54 per cent) of consumers surveyed said they plan to buy a smartphone this year, up from 48 per cent in the previous year’s survey. Chinese consumers are the main drivers of this upturn, with three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents in China saying they intend to purchase a smartphone in the coming 12 months, up from less than two-thirds (61 per cent) in last year’s survey. The number of respondents in India and the United States who said they plan to buy a smartphone in the coming 12 months also increased by double digits over last year, to 79 per cent in India (from 68 per cent last year) and 52 per cent in the US (from 38 per cent last year). Ø The leading driver of purchase intent is ability to access the newest and most innovative features and functions, cited by 51 per cent of respondents in this year’s survey, compared with only 41 per cent last year. Another reason consumers are opting to buy new smartphones is inadequate performance of their existing devices, cited by 45 per cent of customers this year – up from 33 per cent last year. Ø For the first time, the annual survey polled consumers about their intentions to buy digital voice-enabled assistants. Powered by artificial intelligence, the products recognise such human voice commands as “Turn on the light” and “Play music” and answer such questions as “What time is it?” and “What is the temperature outside?” While only four per cent of respondents said they own such a device today, two-thirds of those (65 per cent) said they use the device on a regular basis, showing strong acceptance of this new technology. As the AI technology powering these services has improved dramatically, younger consumers are leading in the adoption of voice assistants on smartphones, with more than four in five 14- to 17-year-olds (84 per cent) saying they either use this technology already or are interested.

Norway early in the New Year was set to start switching off its FM radio network, in what reporters Joachim Dagenborg and Alister Doyle of Reuters called “a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology” that would be closely watched by countries mulling whether to follow suit. The shutdown of the Frequency Modulation network, introduced in the 1950s, was to begin in the northern city of Bodoe on 11 th January. By the end of 2017, all Norwegian FM broadcasts will be closed in favour of DAB, which supporters say carries less hiss and clearer sound throughout the large nation of five million people cut by fjords and mountains. According to Reuters (5 th January), critics of the move claimed that the government was rushing it, putting at risk many people who would miss emergency warnings broadcast via radio. Of particular concern were the two million cars on Norway’s roads that are not equipped with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) receivers. According to the results of an opinion poll published by the daily Dagbladet , 66 per cent of Norwegians opposed the loss of FM, with 17 per cent in favour and the rest undecided. But, influenced by the ability of digital networks to carry more radio channels, Parliament in December gave the final go-ahead for the switchover. Digital radio in Norway provides eight times more radio stations than FM, at the same cost. The current system of parallel FM and digital networks, each of which cost about $29 million, is seen as sapping programming investment. Messrs Dagenborg and Doyle, writing from Oslo, noted that a smooth transition to DAB could encourage other countries to move ahead. Switzerland plans to give up FM for digital in 2020, and Denmark and Britain are among those considering a similar shift. Britain reportedly plans to review the need for a switchover once digital listening reaches 50 per cent. According to Digital Radio UK spokeswoman Yvette Dore, that point could be reached by the end of this year. Ø Ole Joergen Torvmark, head of Digital Radio Norway, which is charged with easing the Norwegian transition, said that cars were the “biggest challenge”. Mr Torvmark told Reuters that a good digital adapter for an FM car radio costs $174.70. Norway becomes the first nation to relinquish FM for digital, with several others preparing to do likewise

A comprehensive global survey finds ‘dynamic digital consumers’ everywhere, eager for services powered by artificial intelligence Between October and November 2016, the Dublin-based management consultancy Accenture conducted an online survey with approximately 26,000 consumers in 26 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the USA.

The sample in each country was representative of the online population. Ages of respondents ranged from 14 to 55 and over. The survey, and related data modelling, quantify consumer perceptions of digital devices, content and services, purchasing patterns, preference and trust in service providers, and the future of their connected lifestyles. In support of its conclusion that “digital disruption is reinventing consumer expectations,” Accenture summarised its findings in “Dynamic Digital Consumers,” available on its website. Here, abridged and lightly edited, are the highlights: Ø After dropping to a three-year low last year, consumer purchases of smartphones are expected to

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Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2017

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