Operators have begun to address the technical side of the 5G challenge but remain in the early stages of their activities, says Ericsson’s 5G Readiness Survey.
The survey was carried out among 50 executives from 29 operators who have showed sufficient commitment in 5G. It revealed that 22 percent are engaged in initial planning, 34 percent are currently in development and 32 percent are actively running trials.
More than half (54 percent) of the operators surveyed do have a clear strategy in place for use cases but far fewer have one for industries and business models, Ericsson said.
Operators who have developed or are developing strategies are focusing primarily on consumers and putting off their decisions on industries and industrial use cases. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents said customer segment drew the most attention in their planning.
To monetize 5G, most operators agreed they need to provide industry-specific services (86 percent) and find new revenue-sharing models (86 percent). Topping the list of high-potential revenue growth areas are third-party collaboration (93 percent) and the Internet of Things (IoT) (93 percent), according to respondents.
To reap the full rewards, operators must look beyond their traditional customer base and broaden their focus to pursue the emerging opportunities of the marketplace. They must address new markets and customers with dramatically different business models.
The transition will be demanding and disruptive. Operators can take steps, however, to ensure a smooth transition to 5G, Ericsson said.
Arun Bansal, head of Business Unit Network Products, Ericsson says, “Ericsson believes that 5G is the foundation for realizing the full potential of the Networked Society. We are partnering with our customers to be early to 5G by driving standards, building the strongest global 5G ecosystem and helping them innovate with 5G solutions that are purpose-built for real-world applications.”
editor@telecomlead.com
