Canada lags globally in offering hyperconnectivity

Canada's slow pace in embracing hyperconnectivity - despite having solid wired and wireless communications infrastructures - means it is ill-equipped to serve a younger workforce accustomed to using multiple devices, multiple applications and a seamless network. That's the warning from Nortel Networks Corp. in a new study that should serve as a wake-up call to Canadian companies. Kelly Kanellakis, leader of strategy and operations within Nortel's R&D organization, says it's not clear why Canada is lagging internationally, including the U.S. which has a higher than average number of hyperconnected individuals. "It just doesn't seem like we're connecting the devices or connecting to as many devices," he opines. "I'm not sure if that's just a symptom of the cost structures here or just the availability of devices." It used to be that companies hyped the always-on anytime, anywhere communications afforded by today's communications infrastructure. But according to the report hyperconnected communications goes further, expecting "everywhere, all the time" communications. But now it's not the companies touting this capability, it's a younger workforce saying give me this or I will work somewhere else. This new expectation means Canadian companies can no longer be satisfied with maintaining a good communications network, says Kanellakis , noting that increased use of instant messaging resulting from email overload means people expect to hold "conversations" in real time. "So now networks have just gone from being critical to super critical," he tells Tech Media Reports. "We're almost getting to the point where we want real-time communications all the time on our network." The effect on communications networks will be profound over the coming years as this younger, and more connected - even hyperconnected - workforce becomes an increasingly large part of the overall workforce. The study predicts that within a few years 40% of the workforce will be considered hyperconnected up from its current level of 16%. According to the report, a hyperconnected individual is one who uses seven devices to connect to the network and nine connectivity applications. Networks will have to be more robust, reliable and capable of supporting multiple devices. The solution is unified communications. The impact could be particularly harsh for Canadian companies if they don't take this changing workforce into account. As the report notes, "Enterprises will either manage this migration or get trampled," particularly when it comes to attracting and retaining highly skilled employees. Kanellakis says businesses will have to learn to adapt to the behaviour of this younger generation or they risk not having enough employees. "If you're not going to take into account what their behaviour is and how they want to work, they're not going to work for you," he explains. "And since we're going to have such a shortage of people coming into the workforce anyway, I think you could see some serious issues with companies not being able to have the number of workers they need to the jobs done."

Canada lags globally in offering hyperconnectivity

News | May 22, 2008

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