Get in the know, now

 
Using technology to try and improve lives is nothing new. But with 5G, Cloud, and the Internet of Things now becoming mainstream, the possibilities of what can be achieved where humanity meets technology are accelerating at unprecedented speed.

Our Know, now report uncovers the most important trends in human augmentation – download it to learn more about the potential opportunities it creates for business and society.
 

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External physical

Pioneering prosthetics

Our daily lives have already been transformed by smart technology. Time-consuming tasks are now done without thinking. And as smart tech and robotics become more intelligent and accessible to greater numbers, their potential is amplified.

We will have the tools to make us faster, stronger and more resilient. Prosthetic limbs will be more precise, helping people with disabilities achieve great things. Vision could be improved with the click of a button. And the workplace of tomorrow will be more productive – and safer.

Internal physical

Inside information

Technology is bringing the power of the laboratory home. Wearables can detect early signs of infection, helping us to monitor, repair and enhance our inner bodies.

In the near future, optical sensors embedded beneath the skin will detect diseases, track and manage epidemics and perhaps even replace failing internal organs. Smart implants will help patients stay home, stay healthy and cut costs – revolutionizing healthcare.
 

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Internal cognitive

Brain boosters

Who wouldn’t want to improve their mental focus, expand their memory and make acquiring new knowledge and skills quicker and easier? By combining artificial intelligence and physiological interfaces, we can supercharge our potential.

For example, augmented reality interfaces on our personal devices and location-specific information will enable us to know more seamlessly. And spoken words translated into practically any language in real-time will allow us to communicate naturally without barriers.

External cognitive

Real-world telekinesis

Augmented and virtual reality are already used to train surgeons and provide real-time surgical guidance. But the potential uses for the technology will expand at pace.

The impacts of augmented and virtual technology, such as gesture control, will affect almost every facet of our lives, from road safety to shopping. We are entering a more connected future.

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From the Metaverse to the 4th industrial revolution (4IR) and changing societal values, new forces are set to radically transform communications in the next decade. For CSPs, understanding the early signals and taking action are crucial to long-term success.

Our Know, now report covers the key trends across technology, business and society to help you prepare, adapt and capitalize on new opportunities.

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Technology

The Metaverse

The Metaverse blends the real and digital worlds into one. Accessed via VR headsets and haptic wearables, it’s a 3D spatial internet that avatars can move through and interact with. World-leading companies will create parallel worlds within the Metaverse where users can play games, access healthcare, learn new skills and participate in the economy. We’ll see the increased use of digital twins, increased demand for digital assets and the ever-growing collection of data for monetization.

Technology

Emerging devices

Wearable tech and implants will soon be commonplace, enhancing our senses through VR and AR. The use of digital twins and holograms will change the face of retail, healthcare, production and more.
 

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Business

Digital retail

Innovations in AR, VR, connectivity and data are continuing to change the way we shop. Online is now the new high street, and a digital-first approach is transforming both the consumer experience as well as business operations.

Societal

Sustainable living

Changes in values are altering consumer behaviour and the business landscape. Investors are assessing all businesses based on environmental credentials and ethical standards. Today, instruments such as green bonds offer considerable incentives to make the transition to a sustainable economy. CSPs need to participate in sustainable initiatives to drive future investments.
 

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Technology

Blockchain

Blockchain is a form of digital ledger used to record contracts or transactions. It works without involving any third party and makes changing or hacking data very difficult, creating new levels of transparency and security. The ground-breaking technology has the potential to transform all kinds of sectors, from logistics to healthcare, government and beyond.

Nokia and the Future Today Institute (FTI), a world leader in strategic foresight and futurology management, came together to find out the global signals, trends and game-changing technologies that communication service providers (CSPs) need to be aware of now.

Discover what these six forces are, their potential implications over the next decade, and how CSPs can prepare for their future.

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Is zero-touch a necessity?

Zero-touch will disrupt how we build, run and operate new services. What if networks could automatically diagnose and heal themselves? Or understand your intentions and respond correctly, in the moment?

Has Things-as-a-Service reached critical mass?

Networks are becoming more complex and expensive to operate – with consumers using more data than ever before. Things-as-a-Service (XaaS) models have escalated to address the growing need for CSPs and enterprises to reduce costs. XaaS challenges CSPs’ traditional ways of doing business and creates the potential for new, top-line growth.

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Are you ready for a cloud partnership with a competitor?

A concentrated market for an invaluable service creates high risk. It can take several years for a large company to integrate its data into the cloud, making selection a high-stakes choice and the cost of switching prohibitive.

What if connectivity was free for everyone?

What if the internet was always on, and offered for free? It could change everything for CSPs, creating new forms of competition and, potentially, a complete disruption of the telecommunications industry.

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Can you curb digital emissions to meet ESG goals?

The internet’s data may be invisible, but it requires physical data centers across the world that must be powered on, cooled, and protected 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For businesses committed to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, reducing their carbon footprint will be key in achieving company-wide emissions targets.

Can we influence genetic design?

We are entering the age of synthetic biology, where humans have the ability to shape the future of life itself using technology to solve real problems. Our future will be shaped by advances in this sector, and a reliable telecommunications ecosystem is key to their success.

Creating positive business momentum in 2021

Ensuring you have the right knowledge to drive your business is essential in a world that never rests.

For communications service providers (CSPs), understanding the early signals that could impact their business is paramount.

Our team has scanned the globe to identify the latest technology, business and societal signals. Uncover the findings in our report, ‘Know, now’.

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Technology

Delivering access from above

High-altitude platforms present an additional option to provide 4G and 5G connectivity, delivering high-speed broadband access to more people.

Find out more about the delivering access from above signal>>

Technology

Adoption of LiDAR in devices

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) uses lasers to determine the 3D contours of spaces and ranging of objects. This early signal could spell a new era for mixed reality content and service creation.

Find out more about the adoption of LiDAR in devices signal>>

Societal

Community-driven economy

User engagement with online communities has been growing steadily, increasing from 72 percent in 2017 to 76 percent in 2019. Due to the pandemic, this number has no doubt grown dramatically this year. The companies finding success are actively creating and curating within these communities.

Find out more about the community-driven economy signal>>

Societal

Low or no-touch interactions

The impact of COVID-19 has meant businesses re-opening their premises are quickly recalibrating operations to become more automated, contactless and COVID-aware. This action has preoccupied enterprise leaders with figuring out which new behaviors and attitudes are likely to endure beyond the pandemic.

Find out more about the low or no-touch interactions signal>>

Business

Digital twins becoming mainstream

The rising adoption of digital twins highlights the importance of virtualized everything. Simulating, exploring and testing without disruption to a real-world object is appealing and has a broad set of use cases.

Find out more about the digital twins becoming mainstream signal>>

Business

Spatial web

Players in the mixed reality space realize augmented and virtual reality technology and devices won't work well without 5G. So, they’re starting to partner with CSPs to accelerate the process. This approach brings us closer to realizing the spatial internet – the mapping of our physical world into virtual spaces.

Find out more about the spatial web signal>>