Postal and telecommunications services sector
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Telecommunication services – using telephones, radio and microwave communications, as well as fibre optics, satellites and the Internet – play a crucial role in the world economy. The worldwide telecommunication services revenue of the industry was estimated to be around $1.8 trillion in 2010. The total workforce in telecommunications services is estimated to be about 6 million, of whom 20 per cent are women.
About 4.5 million workers from the postal and telecommunications services sector are affiliated to global union federations. Major trends include rapid technological developments, deregulation and privatization, and the proliferation of new high-value services. Social dialogue plays a significant role in developing joint strategies by the social partners to improve services, with the common goal of extending access to postal and telecommunications services to all communities, enhancing efficiency of delivery and reviewing prospects for the industry. A key issue in the sector is respect for collective bargaining and avoiding breakdown in the provision of postal and telecommunications services where possible.