There is an old, and well-worn Irish joke, that has a man lost in the countryside asking a passer-by to share with him the best route to Dublin.
“Ah, well,” says the stranger, “I wouldn’t start here.”
Just as there is no set route to Dublin, there is no set route to automation for network operators. It’s the journey that many have embarked on, and many more are contemplating. But the starting point is different for everyone, and so the journey and its challenges will inevitably be different too.
It’s probably the right journey for most though. These are not the easiest times. A variety of rising costs, now including energy, are high and volatile. In developed markets, where the battle isn’t just for customers but talent too. Growth opportunities are harder to find and profit margins under pressure. All operators battle with cost and identifying a reliable direction with the quickest solutions.