The Impact of Blockchain Technology for Sustainable Asset Maintenance in Telecoms Domain in Emerging Markets

Blockchain technology (BCT) is a paradigm shift in the telecom domain, offering unparalleled benefits in asset maintenance adoption. It opens up new avenues for managing asset infrastructure, especially in the operation and maintenance activities and phases of asset life cycle management. This extended phase is pivotal for tackling intricate asset issues that involve energy supply concerns and intermittent outages caused by unstable, irregular and unreliable power supply and inefficient maintenance practices. Thus, customers face challenges related to unreliable network services, while telecom providers experience maintenance and operations challenges on their asset performance and operating expenditure. The primary aim of this study was to increase the understanding of sustainable asset maintenance management in emerging markets using blockchain technology. The study used a case study methodology to demonstrate its practical importance by drawing from a qualitative and quantitative data collection approach; this study also analysed the various features and characteristics of blockchain technology and identified some of the benefits of sustainable asset maintenance management. The quantitative data were analysed with SPSS AMOS by performing structural equation modelling to assist in supporting the theories and research and also understanding the variables to explore their relationships. The qualitative data were transcribed using the descriptive analysis of the semi-structured interview data. Our analysis of the procedures and adoption of each identified value of PdM and CBM from the BCT maintenance adoption, based on the extant studies and the generated quantitative data, reveals significant potential cost savings. The BCT application's effectiveness in asset performance not only significantly enhances network quality but also serves as a promising indicator of operations and maintenance benefits. The results present a robust data-driven model for BCT adoption, which not only enhances confidence in the thoroughness and validity of the research process but also instils a sense of encouragement in the research findings. The findings enable the BCT framework to predict asset infrastructure outages, ensuring an efficient integration of the asset maintenance activities in a BCT approach and adoption. This action includes addressing resource issues, outage visibility and monitoring, and asset infrastructure performance degradation, all of which contribute to reducing operating costs and enhancing financial sustainability. The potential for cost savings and improved network quality is a beacon of hope for the telecom industry's future.