Relationship Between Standards, Network Build, and Service Selection in Telecom

A network's success really depends on how well it balances standards, infrastructure, and service needs. It’s crucial for telecom professionals to make sure that the networks they create not only follow global standards but also provide the right performance for various services, ranging from mobile broadband to critical IoT applications.

The image above illustrates the connection between standards, network development, and service options, demonstrating how these components form a continuous loop. This loop helps ensure that networks are constructed with specific goals, performance metrics are assessed, and services are rolled out based on actual capabilities.

Why Standards Matter in Telecom

Telecom standards, set by organizations like 3GPP, ITU, and IEEE, lay the groundwork for interoperability, performance, and scalability in global networks. Without these standards:

Different vendor devices wouldn’t work seamlessly together.

Performance expectations, like latency, throughput, or reliability, would be all over the place.

Operators would face challenges delivering consistent services across different regions.

Standards act as the blueprint for network construction that can support a variety of services. They outline:

Performance requirements (for instance, 5G aims for 1ms latency for URLLC).

Security frameworks to protect data and users.

Compatibility guidelines for devices, applications, and services.

Step 1: Selecting Services

The initial step involves selecting the services that a telecom operator or business wants to provide. This choice is crucial because the service requirements dictate every other decision throughout the network's lifecycle.

Examples of Services:

Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): Needed for 4K/8K streaming, cloud gaming, and AR/VR experiences.

Massive IoT (mIoT): Critical for smart cities, agricultural applications, and industrial automation.

Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC): Essential for things like autonomous vehicles and remote surgeries.

Each service comes with its own unique requirements regarding throughput, latency, availability, and scalability.

Step 2: Setting Network Performance Requirements

After defining the services, the next step is to establish network performance requirements that align with those services. This is where standards and practical planning come together.

For eMBB, the requirement might be 10 Gbps peak data rate and <20 ms latency.

For URLLC, the need is <1 ms latency and 99.999% reliability.

For mIoT, the target is to support millions of devices per square kilometer while keeping energy use low.

This phase gives the operator a clear target when constructing the network, helping to avoid overbuilding (wasting resources) or underbuilding (not meeting service needs).

Step 3: Building the Network to Meet Requirements

With the requirements established, network engineers can move on to the network build phase. This includes:

Infrastructure deployment: Setting up base stations, fiber backhaul, edge computing nodes.

Spectrum allocation: Choosing the right frequency bands (low-band, mid-band, mmWave) based on coverage and capacity needs.

Technology selection: Utilizing features like Massive MIMO, beamforming, and network slicing.

Virtualization: Implementing NFV (Network Functions Virtualization) and SDN (Software-Defined Networking) to maintain flexibility and scalability.

At this point, performance requirements based on standards are put into practice in the infrastructure.

Step 4: Measuring Performance

Once the network is operational, operators need to measure its performance to confirm that the requirements are being met.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Throughput (Mbps or Gbps)

Latency (ms)

Packet loss (%)

Reliability (uptime percentage)

Energy efficiency

Performance measurement isn’t just a one-off task. Networks are always changing — traffic loads, interference, and user distribution fluctuate regularly. Continuous monitoring is key to ensuring the network adapts and scales effectively.

Tools Used:

Drive tests and benchmarking

Network monitoring systems (NMS)

AI/ML-based predictive analytics

Step 5: Deploying Services That Fit Performance

The last step involves deploying services that align with actual network performance. Not every network can support every service at the same level.

By aligning services with measured performance, operators can:

Avoid overpromising to customers.

Launch services where the infrastructure is capable.

Prioritize network upgrades where service gaps exist.

For instance:

If latency in an area is <10 ms, operators can confidently roll out cloud gaming or AR applications.

If a network can handle high device density, operators can expand smart city IoT solutions.

If ultra-low latency isn’t ready yet, URLLC services may need to wait until upgrades are in place.

The Two-Way Relationship

The diagram shows that this relationship isn’t one-directional; it’s a continuous feedback loop:

Services dictate performance requirements.

Networks are constructed to meet those requirements.

Performance is assessed.

Services are deployed based on those results.

If there are gaps, the cycle starts over — whether through adjusting the services offered or upgrading the network to fulfill demands.

Example: Applying the Cycle to 5G

Let’s see how this cycle applies to 5G network deployment:

Select services: An operator aims to offer AR-based educational tools and smart traffic management.

Set requirements: AR demands high bandwidth and <20 ms latency; smart traffic requires massive IoT connectivity and reliability.

Build network: Deploy mid-band for AR, low-band for IoT; set up edge computing nodes to meet AR latency needs.

Measure performance: Test AR responsiveness in classrooms and evaluate IoT device density at traffic lights.

Deploy services: Launch AR education where latency is low; implement IoT-based traffic management where coverage and density meet standards.

This example illustrates how standards-driven planning guarantees realistic and effective service delivery.

Benefits of This Framework

For telecom professionals, this structured approach comes with several advantages:

Efficiency: Prevents wasted investments in networks that are either overbuilt or underperforming.

Scalability: Simplifies adding new services as standards evolve (like being ready for 6G).

Customer satisfaction: Ensures that services align with real-world performance, which reduces complaints.

Future-proofing: Creates a responsive feedback cycle that keeps improving with each iteration.

Summary Table

Step Action Outcome

Select Services Define applications (eMBB, IoT, URLLC)Sets goals for performance

Set Performance Requirements Match services to standards (latency, speed)Clear benchmarks for network design

Build Network Deploy infrastructure & spectrum Network aligned to standards

Measure Performance Track KPIs with tools and analytics Ensures requirements are met

Deploy Services Launch services matching actual performance Reliable service delivery to customers

Conclusion

The connection between standards, network construction, and service selection is central to today’s telecom strategy. Standards outline performance expectations, services specify real-world demands, and network builds bring these two together.

By persistently measuring performance and aligning it with services, operators can make sure their networks are future-ready, customer-focused, and competitive on a global scale. This cycle is more than just a framework — it's a roadmap for success with 5G and beyond.