Skill Gaps Analysis in

Telecommunication
Industry

Table of Contents
Telecom Sector: An Overview.....................................................4

Workforce Projection.......................................................................4
Division of Requirement by Education..............................................5

Service Providers......................................................................6

Workforce Projection.......................................................................6
Division of Requirement by Education..............................................6
Key roles in graduate and above category........................................6

Telecommunication equipment and manufacturing......................7

Workforce Projection.......................................................................7
Division of Requirement by Education..............................................7
key roles in graduate and above category........................................7

Networks and IT vendors...........................................................8

Workforce projection.......................................................................8
Division of Requirement by Education..............................................8
key roles in graduate and above category........................................8

Telecom Retail..........................................................................9

Workforce projection.......................................................................9
Division of Requirement by Education..............................................9
key roles in graduate and above category........................................9

Critical Job Roles.....................................................................10

Skill Gaps in Service Provider sub-sector..................................11

Need Supervision..........................................................................11
Skills required............................................................................................... 11
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 11
Work Independently......................................................................11
Skills required............................................................................................... 11
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 11
Manages a team............................................................................11
Skills required............................................................................................... 11
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 11

Skill Gaps in Infrastructure providers sub-sector.......................12

Need Supervision..........................................................................12
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 12
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 12
Works Independently.....................................................................12
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 12
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 12
Manages a team............................................................................12
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 12
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 12

Skill gaps in Retail and distribution..........................................13

Need Supervision..........................................................................13
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 13
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 13
Works Independently.....................................................................13
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 13

Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 13
Manages a team............................................................................13
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 13
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 13

Skill gaps in Equipment Manufacturing.....................................14

Need Supervision..........................................................................14
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 14
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 14
Works Independently.....................................................................14
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 14
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 14
Manages a team............................................................................14
Skills Required.............................................................................................. 14
Skill Gaps...................................................................................................... 14

Skill Gaps in Informal Segment................................................15

Challenges face by Recruiters..................................................15
Skills required in telecom industry...........................................15

Telecom Sector: An Overview

Telecommunication is global industry that requires continuous innovation
as services are constantly upgrading to highest world standards. Indian is
becoming the second largest fastest growing market with growth of more
than 35% in terms of subscribers. Also the annual handset sales in India
has crossed 200 million units. Now since smartphones are there, the
usage of mobile phones and the services associated with it are increasing
at the exponential rates.
With government offering license to players and auctioning 3G and 4G
spectrum, telecom industry soon will be high scale recruiter. As there will
huge demand of software engineers, hardware engineers and mobile
analysts. Further the expansion process will open opportunities in the
network installation and maintenance areas.
This sector is employing around 2.5 million people directly and around 7
million who are working indirectly that makes it as one of the largest
employment generating sector.
The telecom sector has been growing aggressive at an average for 35
per cent a year for close to two decades. Though the boom period of this
sector is over, it continues to be a large job creator, Randstad India CEO
K Uppaluri said.
As per the report released by GSMA, prepared in collaboration with BCG,
the Indian mobile economy is growing rapidly and will contribute
approximately $400 Billion to Indias GDP. More importantly the industry
will generate 4.1 million job opportunities.

Workforce Projection

Source: Primary Interactions, NSSO 68th Round of EU Survey, KPMG Analysis

Division of Requirement by Education

Source: Primary Interactions, KPMG Analysis

There will be increase in share of overall sector employment in retail

segment from 22 percent in 2013 to 35 percent by 2022.

Service Providers
Workforce Projection

Source: NSSO, KPMG in India analysis

Division of Requirement by Education

Source: NSSO, KPMG in India analysis

Key roles in graduate and above category

Zonal technical manager

Manager-RF manager
O&M Head
BTS engineer (Team lead)
Network engineer, Territory
sales manager-prepaid
Territory sales manager-post paid
Team manager(CCE)
Team manager(broadband)

Telecommunication equipment and manufacturing

Workforce Projection

Source: NSSO, KPMG in India analysis

Division of Requirement by Education

Source: KPMG Analysis

key roles in graduate and above category

Engineer trainee
Engineer (R&D)

Networks and IT vendors

Workforce projection

Division of Requirement by Education

key roles in graduate and above category

Field Technician/Engineer
RF Engineer
Transmission engineer
BSS engineer
Network Engineer
NSS/Core Engineer

Telecom Retail
Workforce projection

Growth is driven by the growth of specialized mobile retail stores by vendors along with the service.

Division of Requirement by Education

key roles in graduate and above category

Sales executive
Assistant sales manager
Territory sales manager
Sales manager

Critical Job Roles

Following are the job roles in the telecom industry:

Sub-Sector

Service Providers

Passive infra
segment

Position

Skills

Core Engineer
Field maintenance
engineer
Transmission engineer
Fault management
engineer
Installation engineer
Network management
engineer
Customer care executive
Cluster in-charge
Cluster manager
Optical fibre technician
Optical fibre splicer

tower technician

Telecom
equipment and
manufacturing

Network and IT
Vendors

Operator
Production Engineer

Quality Engineer

IT staff manager
application Developer

IT support engineer

Retail and
distribution

In store promoter
Customer care executive
Distributor
sales
representative
Territory sales manager

Core technical skills

Active infrastructure
management
Analytical skills
Operation
management
Revenue assurance

Core technical skills

electrical concept
and equipment
handling
Responsiveness and
reliability
People
management
Training on OHS
Machine operating
skills
Advanced skills for
new technology
Cost optimization
and efficiency
enhancement
Project
management
Technological knowhow
Innovation (IT)
Issue identification
and resolution
People
management and
development
Understanding of
market and
customer
requirements
Presentation skills

Customer
relationship
management (CRM)
People
management and
development
Soft skills
Product knowledge

Skill Gaps in Service Provider sub-sector

Need Supervision

Skills

Entry level engineer and technicians

required
Understanding of job to be done
Willingness to learn while on the job
Problem solving skills and aptitude of identifying issues
Patience and perseverance

Skill Gaps
High attrition at lower technician level because of low pay.
A disconnect between industry requirement and education imparted
in colleges.
High degree of theoretical knowledge but trainings required to fit
into the roles.
Candidate aspiration from role and what he gets when he involves in
job.

Work Independently

Skills

Installation, transmission and infra engineers

required
Identify issues and ability to resolve them with very less supervision
A good mentor skill in order to guide new joiners.
Basic level of expertise.

Skill Gaps
Lack of human management skills
Candidate aspiration from role and what he gets when he involves in
job.

Manages a team

Skills

Core engineer, and network management engineer

required
Quick decision maker
Planning for new products, research and strategy
Aptitude to develop businesses
Thorough knowledge of sectors as well as sub sectors

Skill Gaps
Lack of innovation that lacks him to take initiative
Lack of training for leadership skills and conflict management.

Skill Gaps in Infrastructure providers sub-sector

Need Supervision

Skills

Optical fibre splicers and tower technician

Required
Technical knowledge and certain skill expertise
Quick identification of problems
Willingness to work for long

Skill Gaps
Lack of candidates with required skills
Lack of certification, diploma or degree holder for required
telecommunication skills

Works Independently

Skills

Cluster in-charge
Required
Define goals to lower level technicians
Mentoring tower technicians, and ability to maintain safety norms
Proper and concise communication

Skill Gaps
Lack of technical skills and training to update people on current
standards
Lack of human management skills

Manages a team

Cluster manager

Skills

Required
Good decision maker
Should handle new site planning and strategy.
Management skills to manage optical fibres splicers and tower
technicians
Human management skill to connect with worker

Skill Gaps
Lack of training modules focusses on motivation, leadership and
conflict management.
No replacement in case of attrition as significant high level of skills
required.

Skill gaps in Retail and distribution

Need Supervision

Skills

Customer care and sales executive

Required
Understanding of telecommunication sector and process
Knowledge of third party and ability to sell
Understating customer needs
Good communication skills

Skill Gaps
Lack of structure training programs
Disconnect between college education and actual work

Works Independently

Skills

Area sales manager, regional sale manager

Required
Defining and guiding in achieving the required sales targets
Good communication to communicate clearly
Ability to manage people

Skill Gaps
Lack of technical skill and lack of training required to stay updated
Lack of human management skills

Manages a team

Skills

General Manager, VP-Sales

Required
Good decision maker
Handle new product planning, strategies and sale responsibility.
Thorough knowledge of sectors

Skill Gaps
Lack of training modules focusses on motivation, leadership and
conflict management.
No replacement in case of attrition as significant high level of skills
required.

Skill gaps in Equipment Manufacturing

Need Supervision

Operators and team leaders

Skills Required
Technical knowledge to operate machinery
Communication and report skills
Skill Gaps
Aspiration gap because of high expectation
Lack of motivation

Works Independently

Group Leader, production manager, training manager

Skills Required
Ensure safety in plant and cost efficiency.
A bridge between management and operators
Skill Gaps
Lack of safety awareness and trainings
Lack of management and communication skills

Manages a team

Skills

Factory head, senior manager

Required
Specific technical skills
Efficient management skills
Continuous innovation and cost optimization.

Skill Gaps
Less of innovation and more of reverse engineering
Low focus on technical skills that cause limited understanding of
process and hence limited understanding of cost optimization.

Skill Gaps in Informal Segment

KYC and documentation knowledge,

o Understanding of risks involved and documentation process is
also and skill-gap.
Book keeping, stock management and financial management
o No understanding of banking practices, credit ratings etc.
o No supply chain understanding and lack of financial discipline.
Product Knowledge
o No knowledge or very few knowledge about the product.
o Poor selling skills because of less knowledge about the
product.

Challenges face by Recruiters

Lack of industry exposure, analytical, logical reasoning and

technology knowledge.
Very few institutes that provide the core telecommunication
education and skill in the area.
Many candidates failed to develop the entrepreneurial abilities and
skills.

Quality of engineering graduates is a big issue. We see that the success

rate of recruitment from most institutions is low. Students lack exposure,
technical depth, analytical and logical reasoning. This makes the hiring
challenging in spite of a large number of graduates available.

Skills required in telecom industry

1. Companies seeks for engineering graduates with electronics and
telecommunication degree because of technical nature of job.
2. Coding
and
software
testing
are
some
essential
in
telecommunication industry.
3. Strong programming skill in database.
4. Hybrid
skills
that
combine
technical
knowledge
to
telecommunication market understanding, customer relationship
and business acumen.
5. Soft skills such as team working and communication are important
to rise in the ladder.
6. Ability to administer routers, gateways, switches including WAN and
LAN.
7. Telecom certifications like Cisco Certified Network Professional
(CCNP), Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) etc.