CV_Winter_21

CORE COMMUNICATIONS Most offices remain fully remote at this point in the pandemic, with workers operating from home environments. While we’re all eager to see what the world will look like when the pandemic ends, it’s clear that many workers are keen to get back to their offices. According to a study from Glassdoor, roughly 75 percent of more than 1,100 employed U.S. adults are ready to return to the office. And 45 percent expect to return to their company’s office in some capacity this summer, while 83 percent trust their company’s leadership to make an informed decision about when to head back. By this time next year, it’s possible to envision a scenario where many offices are in a hybrid state and employees are allowed to work from where they feel most comfortable. As a result, businesses need to start looking for ways to modernize their offices and enable social distancing and accom- modate on-site workers. “The days of sitting together in close quarters are gone,” said Matt Hickey, vice president of sales for service provid- ers and strategic alliances at Snom. “Offices are changing, and companies are rethinking floor layouts and confer - ence rooms. As such, businesses need to focus on flexibility and mobility. Workers will demand office phones that let them stay connected while socially distancing from other employees.” Of course, retrofitting offices and repositioning employees comes with its share of challenges. For example, companies will be tasked with bringing connectivity to each desk, which can be costly. To make this process easier and less expensive, Snom offers wireless desk phones and handsets powered by digital enhanced cordless technology (DECT). Snom’s base stations can be placed anywhere in an office, without expensive or complicated wiring — giving businesses the freedom to move employees around as needed. In addition to providing increased range, DECT also offers superior voice quality with crystal clear calling. DECT is even more secure than Bluetooth and more reliable. Plus, Snom is adding antibacterial materials to all future handsets, desk phones, and conference solutions to help protect the devices from germs. “As companies return to offices, they need to watch out for commonly shared items and surfaces,” Hickey added. “Snom’s antibacterial phones will play a big part in keeping workers safe.” Snom offers the M100 DECT Mobil- ity Series, ideal for small businesses that need easy-to-use and straightfor- ward wireless communications. The series also provides Key Line Emula- tion (KLE) mode for companies that want the advantages of modern SIP technology with the simplicity of tradi- tional wireless devices. The company also is offering a trade-in rebate, enabling businesses to earn money back when replacing old phones. With the number of obstacles facing businesses right now, Snom wants to ensure that connecting with customers isn’t one of them. All Snom products are sold exclu- sively through accredited partners. VARs and service providers are welcome to register with the company at snomamericas.com. The global value of the wide area network (WAN) market in 2020 was $75.9 billion, according TeleGeography analysis of the wide-area networking spend of the Global 5000 database of the world’s largest companies by revenue. The research firms notes that, while new software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) services are gaining traction, enterprise spend is still dominated by MPLS and local access services. MPLS spend in 2020 was approxi- mately $32.6 billion, or 42.96 percent of the WAN market – with SD-WAN accounting for $1.6 billion or 2.15 percent of the market. Local access followed MPLS with $28.9 billion in total spend or 38.19 percent of the market, DIA accounted for $12.4 billion or 16.33 percent of the market. Broad- band contribution to WAN spend was only $279 million, or 0.37 percent of the market, which is largely due to its low-cost pricing, said TeleGeography. “Despite the hype around SD-WAN, MPLS is still a force in the WAN market and it will continue to be a preferred option for many enterpris- es. Our expectation is that as MPLS spend declines, broadband, DIA and SD-WAN will increase market share,” said TeleGeography analyst Elizabeth Thorne. “SD-WAN uptake is still toward the end of the early adopter cycle.” The U.S. and Canada accounted for 15 percent of global revenue, even though it is home to only approximately 4.5 percent of the global population. Enabling the Mobile Office with DECT Global WAN Market Tops $75 Billion in 2020 2020 Global WAN Spend by Segment Segment Dollars Spent % of Market MPLS $32,6 billion 42.96% Local access $28.9 billion 38.19% DIA $12.4 billion 16,33% SD-WAN $1.6 billion 2.15% Broadband $279 million 0.37% Source: TeleGeography 32 CHANNEL V ISION | January - February, 2021