Gartner Symposium kicked off in the Gold Coast today, with a packed program of sessions ranging from AI in Customer Service to Cloud-delivery of security services, from disruption in Financial Services to the shifting ecosystems in Utilities.

It’s been a long time coming, but in just a few short months, the ISDN will be switched off. With the clock seriously ticking, time’s running out for businesses to make the most advantageous migration plans. For any business failing to migrate, the stark reality of the ISDN decommission will be a complete communication blackout.

With the enormous opportunities opening up with the coming 5G network, it’s important for businesses to plan ahead and understand what’s required to transition to this ultra-connected world of 5G.

For all Wallabies aficionados, Australia’s opening campaign of the Rugby World Cup 2019 kicks off against Fiji on Saturday, 21 September in Sapporo, Japan. No doubt, Australian fans will be hoping to see the Wallabies super-fit and fully-prepared to return to their former glory days. Meanwhile, at around the same time, in a business district near you, the copper network switch off will get underway. Telstra will start disconnecting copper ISDN services as NBN Co brings business-grade networking solutions online.

See a headline with 5G in it, and it’s often accompanied by the term ‘game-changer’. If you’re like me, this puts you on automatic high alert for PR spin. However, in the case of 5G, merely describing it as a game-changer may well be underselling its true value and impact.