An Opportunity for Telcos to Offer “Presence as a Service”
The idea of “Presence as a Service” offers telcos a unique opportunity to enhance how we stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues. Thanks to advances in AI and data capture, telecom providers can leverage the vast streams of data they access from users’ devices to provide real-time insights into availability and activity, helping people stay more connected, automatically. With presence data derived from metrics like footsteps from smartphones, internet activity, and interactions across devices, telcos could infer when someone is free or busy, creating an intelligent status system. This service could revolutionize how we communicate—but only if managed intelligently and securely.
AI-Powered Presence: A New Kind of Status Indicator
Telcos are uniquely positioned to offer this service because they have access to a wide range of data from customer devices and network activity. Imagine a service that can tell when a user is out for a walk, based on step data from their phone, or when they’re working on their computer, based on internet usage patterns. By analyzing these inputs, an AI-powered “presence” system could automatically update a user’s availability, letting friends and family know whether they’re available for a chat or preoccupied.
Though similar to the concept of “active” status in messaging apps, Presence as a Service would be far more advanced, creating a nuanced picture of availability beyond a simple “online” or “offline.” For example, it could show whether someone is active at home, working, or in transit, letting close contacts know when they’re most likely to respond.
Managing Privacy Concerns and Security
Of course, the idea of telcos monitoring user activity might sound invasive, raising valid privacy and security concerns. To make Presence as a Service feasible, robust privacy controls and opt-in consent will be essential. AI can be used to manage these controls, allowing users to toggle their presence on and off easily. Data security—a strength of most telecom providers—would also be critical. As custodians of this information, telcos could offer secure storage and management of user data, limiting access and ensuring only authorized individuals or systems can view presence information.
An Opportunity for Telcos to Compete with Big Tech
Presence as a Service represents an opportunity for telcos to stake a claim in the competitive digital communications space. With big tech and startups innovating rapidly, telcos risk losing ground if they don’t move early. By offering services that make life more seamless, telcos can reclaim relevance, positioning themselves not just as connectivity providers but as enhancers of personal and professional connections. Those who opt into such a service may find they connect more often with loved ones, discovering availability intuitively instead of missing opportunities to reach out.
The question is, will telcos seize this opportunity to leverage their competitive advantage, or will they wait for others to disrupt the market? In a world that values convenience and connection, telcos have a unique chance to offer a service that enhances how we stay in touch, making availability as seamless as the networks they provide.