telecom

telecom — noun

1. the technology, systems, and services for sending voice, data, images, and messa

1.nounB1
Definition

the technology, systems, and services for sending voice, data, images, and messages across long distances, especially through telephone networks, the internet, or satellites.

Example

Imani works in the telecom industry, helping to improve mobile network coverage in rural East Africa.

telecom + noun collocation

The government invested billions in telecom infrastructure to connect remote mountain villages.

telecom infrastructure

Common collocations
  • telecom industry
  • telecom infrastructure
  • telecom services
  • telecom network
  • telecom equipment
  • telecom sector
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the telecom [noun]

telecom + noun

Usage Note

This sense is always uncountable and refers to the field or technology as a whole, never to a specific business. Frequently used as a modifier before nouns (telecom company, telecom equipment, telecom network).

Common Mistakes

I work for a telecom.' (when meaning a company).
I work in telecom.
the uncountable sense refers to the field or industry, not an organisation.

2. a company that provides telephone, internet, television, or other communication

2.nounB1
Definition

a company that provides telephone, internet, television, or other communication services to customers.

Example

Three major telecoms compete for customers in this city, each offering different data plans.

plural: [number] + telecoms

Hao switched to a different telecom after his old provider raised the monthly fee without notice.

Common collocations
  • major telecoms
  • local telecom
  • regional telecom
  • switch telecoms
  • a telecom launched
Synonyms
  • telecommunications company

    the full form; more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • carrier

    industry term, often used for companies that operate network infrastructure

Grammar Patterns

a telecom

the telecom + verb

[number] telecoms

Usage Note

Commonly used in its plural form 'telecoms' when referring to the industry as a collection of companies ('the telecoms sector'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers to an individual organisation and can take a/an, while sense 1 cannot.

Common Mistakes

Telecom is investing in new towers.' (singular without article).
The telecom is investing in new towers.' or 'Telecoms are investing in new towers.
countable nouns need a determiner or plural form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Telecom and telecommunications are very close in meaning, but telecom is the shortened, everyday form used in news headlines, job titles, and casual conversation ('telecom industry,' 'works in telecom'). Telecommunications is the full, more formal term often seen in official documents and academic writing ('the telecommunications sector'). Communications is broader: it covers any exchange of information, including face-to-face conversation, postal mail, and non-electronic signals. For example, you would say 'She works in telecom' about a mobile-network engineer, but 'The company handles internal communications' about an office that writes newsletters.

telecom ↗telecommunicationscommunications

Common collocations

Nouns

  • telecom industry
  • telecom company
  • telecom operator
  • telecom provider
  • telecom infrastructure
  • telecom network
  • telecom equipment
  • telecom services
  • telecom sector
  • telecom engineer

Phrases

  • telecom giant
  • major telecom
  • leading telecom

Prepositions

  • in telecom
  • in the telecom sector

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Telecom is a clipped form of telecommunications, which was formed in the early 20th century from the Greek prefix tele- meaning 'far, at a distance' and the Latin-based communications, from communicare meaning 'to share.' As the telephone and radio industries expanded rapidly in the 1900s, the shorter form telecom became a convenient shorthand in journalism and business. Usage grew especially fast after the 1980s, when telecom companies became major players in global markets.