The telecommunications industry keeps communication lines open and maintains the flow of information we depend on for modern living. The industry encompasses phone networks, radio and television towers, and broadband internet connections—all vital to business, education, and entertainment.
People who work in telecommunications careers design service networks, install and maintain equipment, and sell services to customers. They ensure the delivery of text, voice, audio, and video throughout the infrastructure of service networks.
Wired telecommunications represent the largest division of the industry. Companies in this sector provide landline phones, cable TV, and internet to homes and businesses. These services continue to become more efficient as fiber optic cabling replaces copper wiring.
Wireless service providers supply phone, internet, and other data through signals over radio tower networks. These signals are transmitted directly to customers’ mobile devices.
Other divisions of the industry include satellite communications technology that takes pictures of the earth and transmits other data—and radar and radio communication networks, which aid in the navigation of trucks, boats, and planes, among other applications.
Quick facts to know:
- Innovations in telecommunications technology have boosted productivity and created more reliable hardware, resulting in workforce reductions. Over 100,000 fewer jobs are expected in the next decade, about 20 percent of the industry.
- Many telecommunications occupations pay higher than the national average.
- Strong growth is anticipated in rural areas, as only one-fifth of rural Americans have access to broadband networks.
- Although telecommunications jobs are almost exclusively in the private sector, companies are regulated by a government oversight agency, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC.