Ericsson has released its latest Ericsson Mobility Report Business Review 2024, sharing insights on the strategies of communication service providers (CSPs) worldwide, focusing on four key opportunity areas aimed at driving revenue expansion.
Termed as Business Review 2024, this report stands as the second special business edition within the Ericsson Mobility Report series. It delves into the transformative journey CSPs are undertaking, exploring new revenue avenues, and refining service offerings to meet the demands of an increasingly digitized world.
The report reveals that CSPs across the globe are actively pursuing or exploring opportunities in four main areas:
Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): A refined iteration of 4G mobile broadband, eMBB promises superior efficiency and performance.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Wireless WAN opportunities: With a focus on residential broadband and enterprise segments, these avenues present lucrative prospects for CSPs, offering higher average revenue per user (ARPU) compared to conventional mobile broadband services.
Differentiated Connectivity Solutions: CSPs are venturing into tailored connectivity solutions such as private networks for enterprises and leveraging network slicing capabilities of public 5G standalone (SA) networks to offer distinct services to consumers and businesses.
Driving Innovation and Ecosystem Growth: Programmable networks, particularly network APIs, are identified as potential catalysts for accessing new value opportunities, enabling application developers to innovate on a large scale.
Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks at Ericsson, emphasizes the criticality of tapping into the evolving capabilities of 5G networks to unlock new value pools, essential for sustainable growth in the sector.
The report underscores the significant progress in 5G deployment, with approximately 290 commercial networks launched to date, over 40 of which are based on advanced 5G standalone technology. Notably, global 5G subscriptions have surpassed 1.6 billion, constituting 18 percent of all mobile subscriptions, as per the November 2023 Ericsson Mobility Report.
Beyond the business potential of enhanced mobile broadband, the report highlights the rising prominence of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a viable solution for delivering broadband connectivity to homes, particularly evident in markets like the US.
Moreover, the central role of 5G in enhancing industry productivity is elucidated through a logistics case study, showcasing a 20 percent improvement in productivity and 15 percent lower capital expenditure compared to Wi-Fi.
Furthermore, the report accentuates the widespread deployment of 5G private networks, integral to digitalization initiatives pursued by enterprises. An Ericsson survey spanning 15 countries and 10 industries delineates the primary early use cases, including connected workers, autonomous equipment, and sensors.
