Imagine this – a telecom network managing millions of users, running 24/7, and delivering critical services without interruption. Now, picture a single bug slipping into the system, causing downtime, security vulnerabilities, or worse, a complete service outage. 

The impact isn’t just a technical hiccup; it directly affects your customers, your reputation, and your bottom line. Telecom systems are complex, supporting real-time communications at an enormous scale, which makes reliability and stability absolutely essential. By investing in clean, well-structured code from the start, teams can avoid costly fixes, boost efficiency, and maintain good code quality in telecom software development. 

In an industry like this, where the stakes are high, prioritizing code quality is not just a smart choice; it’s necessary for long-term success.

Why does code quality in telecom software development matter? 

Telecom-scale systems handle a lot of data and support millions of users, which means reliability and efficiency are very important. Code quality directly impacts the stability of these systems, reducing errors and crashes, which leads to a better user experience. 

With clean, well-structured code, updates and maintenance become smoother, which enhances team efficiency and enables faster scaling. While it requires an upfront investment in time and resources, prioritizing code quality ultimately proves cost-effective by minimizing post-deployment issues and costly fixes.

Good code doesn’t just benefit individual developers, it also promotes smoother collaboration across teams. Clear, consistent coding practices reduce confusion, making it easier for multiple engineers to work on the same codebase without stepping on each other’s toes. This kind of collaborative efficiency is especially important in telecom projects, where teams often work across time zones and geographies.

But the importance of code quality isn’t just theoretical – it’s also a matter of measurable financial impact. According to CISQ, poor software quality cost the U.S. economy $2.41 trillion in 2022 alone. Beyond the direct costs of fixing bugs, poor code leads to productivity losses as developers spend time troubleshooting instead of focusing on new features. It can also damage a company’s reputation, as clients may associate buggy software with low-quality products. The consequences can even go as far as introducing security vulnerabilities, leading to costly breaches or cyberattacks.

Bugs can slip into any part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from planning and analysis to design, implementation, and maintenance. The cost of fixing bugs escalates dramatically the later they are discovered. For example, addressing an issue in the planning phase might cost $100, but by the time it’s in the production phase, it could balloon to $10,000 due to the compounding effects of delays and further complications.

Handling a massive, multi-million-line telecom codebase, developed by hundreds of engineers over years presents its own unique challenges. Telecom systems are highly complex, which requires deep domain knowledge that’s in short supply. Moreover, these projects are often spread across various countries and involve external vendors, making effective communication and knowledge sharing crucial. 

With teams working on different components, it becomes vital to manage code dependencies to ensure seamless integration of new features and updates, all while maintaining high-quality standards.

In short, code quality in telecom software development is not just about preventing bugs – it’s about ensuring the stability, scalability, and future-proofing of the entire system. It enhances team productivity, safeguards reputation, and prevents costly errors, making it a critical investment in both the short and long term.

Using GTest and GMock in C++ to maintain stability of a complex, distributed codebase

GTest and GMock are popular for unit testing in embedded systems for several reasons. It’s also an approach our team at Holisticon uses for large-scale projects, including a software radio system we’ve delivered for a global telecom leader. Here’s why they are a good choice for building testing strategies for telecom software.

They reduce manual QA

Running automated tests through these tools lets free up time of the software development team for when manual QA is truly needed. Automated unit tests, including those written with GTest, make regression testing easier by ensuring that new code changes do not affect existing functionality. This, as a result, reduces the need for extensive manual regression testing.

They support early bug detection

In terms of bug detection, there are two aspects worth noting:

Automated unit tests – Automated unit tests, such as those facilitated by GTest, also help in early bug detection by providing fast and reliable feedback on code changes. This lets developers address these shortcomings quickly.

Mocking dependencies with GMock – While mocks can reduce test fidelity by not executing the actual implementation of dependencies, they are useful for simulating specific scenarios. Using fakes is particularly useful when certain code paths are hard to trigger.

They boost confidence in software delivery

Using real implementations or fakes in tests provides higher test fidelity, closely resembling production behavior. As a result, when the development team delivers the solution, they can do so with confidence that the code will perform correctly in production environments. 

Also, GTest and GMock offer what Google coined as a “balanced test mix”, which includes unit tests, integration tests, and larger tests. This guarantees comprehensive coverage, allowing developers to confidently assess the stability and reliability of their code before delivery. 

This benefit is something we’ve felt particularly strongly while delivering the above-mentioned radio system for our global telecom client. We combined automated GTest and GMock tests with manual effort. This reduced system downtime and improved stability. Network performance also increased. As a result, the client saw long-term benefits. The platform’s user experience improved, and customer satisfaction went up.

How remote collaboration works in mission-critical environments

In telecom, where uptime is everything and systems need to meet five-nines availability, remote collaboration can’t afford to sacrifice reliability. Mission-critical environments demand structured processes, innovative tooling, and clear accountability. That’s why many telecom teams go for a hybrid delivery model which combines remote engineering with quarterly onsite visits for high-stakes activities like planning, architecture reviews, and alignment on critical milestones.

The key to success in remote collaboration for telecom software architecture is a seamless, secure workflow. Secure access protocols, real-time observability, and standardized CI/CD pipelines ensure remote teams can contribute without delays or risk to system stability. Daily standups, incident response simulations, and live debugging sessions keep teams in sync, even across time zones. 

For telecom companies, this setup balances the scalability of talent with the operational continuity needed when software updates affect millions of users or even national infrastructure.

Maintaining code quality remotely in telecom requires discipline and a strong engineering culture. With telecom software architecture often involving complex systems, especially in embedded systems, every line of code is critical. Teams rely on rigorous code reviews, automated software testing and integration tests, and linting tools to enforce high standards consistently. Well-documented code, detailed pull request descriptions, and knowledge-sharing rituals like tech talks or internal wikis are essential in remote settings to ensure clarity and coherence.

Hybrid delivery models work really nicely in telecom environments. Onsite visits enable deep-dive architecture sessions and retrospectives that tackle recurring quality issues, which ensure alignment and continuous improvement. Coupled with metrics-driven development – tracking test coverage, defect rates, and deployment frequency – distributed software development teams can consistently ship safe, clean code, even at scale and across borders.

In telecom, where systems must run with near-perfect uptime, unit testing in embedded systems is non-negotiable. By verifying the smallest functional units of code in isolation, it ensures that each block behaves as expected. This is especially valuable in this industry, where software complexity and interdependencies make debugging difficult and downtime costly. 

Writing unit tests alongside modular code not only catches regressions early but enforces clean, maintainable architecture. This automated approach helps pinpoint bugs quickly, which minimizes risk during large-scale deployments. With automated testing in place, remote teams can focus on delivering new features while keeping the system stable – critical when millions of users depend on uninterrupted service.

What other industries can learn from telecom engineering

Telecom engineering operates in a world where systems must run 24/7, manage massive scale, and recover seamlessly from failures, all while adhering to strict performance and safety standards. These principles are not unique to telecom; they’re shared by other high-reliability industries like automotive, aerospace, and medtech, where uptime and safety are critical. The learnings include: 

Non negotiable code quality 

In telecom, code quality is essential, especially given the regulatory frameworks and the demand for fault-tolerant, low-latency, and scalable systems. Telecom systems often comprise millions of lines of code and are built to meet strict standards like those from the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). This commitment to quality ensures that telecom networks can handle massive amounts of data without compromising reliability.

Parallels in other industries:

• Medtech: Medical devices adhere to standards like IEC 62304, where software defects can have life-threatening consequences, making precision and reliability paramount.

• Automotive: Safety-critical systems, like braking or steering, must meet ISO 26262 standards, ensuring the functional safety of electrical and electronic systems in vehicles.

• Aerospace: Avionics software follows DO-178C, a standard that demands full traceability, rigorous testing, and verification to guarantee reliability in flight.

Distributed development management practices

Telecom, like aerospace and medtech, often relies on partnerships between device makers, software vendors, and various stakeholders. These industries rely on clear interfaces and shared coding standards. Continuous integration pipelines help ensure consistent output. Collaboration across teams becomes easier. Just like in telecom, coordinated development is essential. Distributed teams must work closely to handle complex systems.

Securing long lifespans

Telecom systems are designed for longevity, often running for years with regular updates while supporting legacy systems. The software and architecture are investments that need to be adaptable, avoiding unnecessary complexity that could hinder future development.

Parallels in other industries:

• Aerospace: Aircraft systems may need to be maintained for decades, requiring long-term support and regular updates to stay operational and safe.
  
• Medtech: Medical devices must remain reliable and secure over long lifecycles, with regular updates to maintain their functionality and safety standards.
  
• Automotive: Modern cars now expect OTA (over-the-air) updates throughout their lifespan, much like telecom systems that must support ongoing advancements without compromising previous functionality.

Using GTest and GMock in C++ to maintain code quality in telecom software development

In the long run, it really pays off to invest in clean code and strong testing, especially in complex, multi-year projects and large-scale C++ codebases. Clean code makes it easier for your team to maintain and scale the system, while also helping to spot and fix issues quickly. 

Good testing, like automated unit tests, catches problems early so you avoid those annoying bugs that can cause downtime later. In industries like telecom, where reliability is key, these practices are crucial for keeping systems running smoothly. 

They also make life easier for your team by reducing complexity, boosting productivity, and ensuring your customers get the reliable service they expect. In the end, focusing on clean code and testing not only saves time and money but sets you up for success as your project grows and evolves.

Passion And Execution

Who We Are

At Holisticon Connect, our core values of Passion and Execution drive us toward a Promising Future. We are a hands-on tech company that places people at the centre of everything we do. Specializing in Custom Software Development, Cloud and Operations, Bespoke Data Visualisations, Engineering & Embedded services, we build trust through our promise to deliver and a no-drama approach. We are committed to delivering reliable and effective solutions, ensuring our clients can count on us to meet their needs with integrity and excellence.

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