* This post was translated and originally published here (Spanish) within the framework of the I Congreso de Industria Conectada taking place in Madrid the 21st of September. The Congress is organized by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain and is linked to its Connected Industry 4.0 strategy.
The term Industry 4.0 is used in reference to the fourth industrial revolution. Digitalization is transforming everything at an unparalleled speed. Therefore, all the agents involved, companies, citizens and public administrations, must adapt to this reality in order to be competitive in this new environment. There is no doubt that digitalization is creating uncertainties, which will have to be addressed, but it will also provide new opportunities for economic growth and social well-being, enabling us to move towards a better society.
We have an excellent opportunity to transform our society, institutions and the industry in particular. This reality, together with our capabilities, inspires us to promote this transformation hand in hand with the industrial network of the country, technological companies and the Administration.
At Telefónica we are undergoing a similar process. A process during which, in a short time, we have had to transform our “factory” -the design, distribution and marketing of our services- to serve better our customers’ needs.
As a result, we have acquired technological and innovative capabilities that allow us to compete in this new business ecosystem. Among other things, we have proven experience in projects involving Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, IoT (Internet of Things), Cloud and Security. We are working with other companies and collaborating in their transformation thanks to the adoption of these technologies. We are also contributing to the development, together with the Public Administrations, of cooperation and interoperability platforms. We are fostering innovation in an open ecosystem, through initiatives such as Open Future or Wayra. And, we continue to be at the forefront in the deployment of new-generation networks to meet the high connectivity demands of the industrial sector.
At Telefónica, we want to contribute to this process from the perspective and knowledge of being the leading operator of connectivity services and digital solutions in Spain. A country that leads the deployment of fibre in Europe, placing us in a privileged position for the future deployment of 5G.
We are firmly committed to ‘Industria Conectada 4.0’. We have to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by digitalization and new technologies. We will continue working together with the Spanish’s Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness in this initiative, key for the future of Spanish industry.
Chairman & CEO, Telefónica S.A
This post can also be found in Telefónica Public Policy.
