Technology Trends for 2020

2019 was a whirlwind year in the technology industry. Many trends from the year will continue to be a factor in 2020 and beyond. The demand for process automation will keep rising for the foreseeable future as web-based products become more widely used by businesses. Cybersecurity continues to be a top priority for businesses across the globe and artificial intelligence will drive demand for cloud-based services. Conversely, autonomous vehicles had been gaining steady traction, but slightly stalled in 2019 amid concerns regarding adequate safety and testing.

No matter what 2020 brings, DQE is prepared with solutions to keep your business at the forefront. Here are the major trends we’re anticipating:

5G

As of November 2019, dozens of U.S. metropolitan areas had 5G, and major carriers promised more will come in the near future.

The system will enhance device and network capabilities, offering a high rate of data, more capacity, better connections and more device connectivity. The demand for fiber optics will increase as the 5G network continues to expand because of its capacity capabilities and ability to connect carriers to fixed wireless access networks.

Telecom Mergers

The Sprint/T-Mobile merger grabbed headlines this year as the Department of Justice approved the $26 billion deal. Look for mergers and acquisitions on a smaller scale to be a large part of growth strategies for local and regional businesses in 2020. More telecom mergers were expected in 2019 than 2018. The current data center infrastructure is already heavily in use, and the continuing trend will mean more demand for data center infrastructure, including fiber optic cable.

Data Center Growth

With the rising demand of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT), the global data center market has experienced growing demand. The global data center market is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of more than 4% by 2024. Fiber is an integral tool in any data center, meaning the demands on the fiber market will also remain high.

Cybersecurity

IoT opens a world of possibilities for users, but it also a potential portal for cyberattacks. IoT attacks were up 600% in 2017, and more than 8,800 breaches were recorded between January 1, 2005, and April 2018, with small businesses of fewer than 1,000 employees being the most vulnerable.

The need to protect financial data and private customer information is at an all-time high. Distributed Denial of Service mitigation services will grow as businesses of all sizes look to put processes in place to prevent or minimize breaches.

Artificial Intelligence

As artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT) needs of various industries increase in use, the infrastructure that supports those technologies will need to keep pace.

The medical industry is turning to web-based technology to communicate with patients and even conduct surgeries in some cases, however the general IT infrastructure of hospitals is often outdated.

Technology is playing a larger role in the education system with students attending class through virtual classrooms and teachers communicating with parents through apps and other web-based forums.

Conclusion

To keep up with demand, industries across the globe will need to strengthen their cloud solutions and overall network capabilities to give the end user the fast, seamless and secure services necessary to remain relevant in today’s digital marketplace. DQE’s expansive fiber-based services provide scalable, safe solutions for businesses across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. The network is built to grow with the industry and will be ready to meet increased bandwidth needs that will come with these trends in 2020 and beyond.