Building a next-gen work force

Is it possible to have a next-generation network and deliver next-generation services if you don't have next-generation workers?

I don't think so. And neither does Walt Mansell, a man with decades of telecom expertise who offers a variety of online training classes through his Watershed Networks company.

And this may be the telecom industry's dirty little secret that's not that secret anymore. Having hundreds of well-trained engineers means little if the technology those engineers know best is being phased out. Having hundreds of newly trained IT professionals might not mean much, either, if those technologists don't understand telecom — and the many ways in which a telecom network must be operated more securely and reliably than your average data network.

When Telephony started asking network service providers how they were addressing this new human resources challenge, we found many of them didn't want to talk. Some admitted, off the record, that this is too sensitive a subject, in too many ways.

Let me count them: First, at a time when telecom service providers are trying to convince business customers to outsource more of their networking and applications, no one wants their potential customers to know they are hard up for expertise. Second, many hold the U.S. university system to blame for not producing the right kind of engineering talent, but bashing the education system right now is politically incorrect. Third, immigration policies also are to blame, but bashing them, etc., etc. Fourth, as one off-the-record commenter put it: "If we found a solution to this problem, we wouldn't tell the media about it. This market is too competitive." Fifth, many of the newer technologies will automate systems and enable job cuts, and talking about job cuts right now — well, I think you get the picture.

But some companies were very open on this issue and willing to share what they have done.  SureWest, Telus and Verizon were three service providers that acknowledged the challenge but say they saw it coming and have things under control. Of course, recruiting new IT talent brings these companies into competition with the Googles of the world for those skills.

If there were more open discussion on the problem, there might be more solutions as well. Let us know what you think, and if you are a service provider and willing to share ideas, please do.

E-mail me at cwilson3@telephonyonline.com.