In the run-up to 2020 and beyond, talking about 5G is pretty much unavoidable. Yet, while in previous years the talk has very much been baked in ¡®hype¡¯, this year the countdown is officially on.?
Years of excitement (and hype!) are finally giving way to progress - proof of concepts, field trials, build-outs and early deployments. 5G is on the cusp of becoming reality. The question that is still to be answered is: what will it deliver??
With traditional telecom revenues in decline, connectivity fast becoming a commodity and customer trust diminishing, much of the focus (and hope) is on delivering new revenues through enhanced customer services for mobile network operators.?
reuters
ALSO READ:?Here's How 5G Will Connect Our Phones, PCs, & Smart Cars With 1 Gbps Network Speeds By 2019
Despite the many recognised advantages of 5G, mobile network operators are still looking for concrete evidence of ROI. The investment isn¡¯t a small one. In fact, it will likely amount to a collective investment of billions of dollars in new network equipment, licenses and deployment. So, what difference will 5G actually make???
Avoiding the obvious temptation to simply say ¡®Internet of Things¡¯, here are five 5G-powered use cases that mobile network operators must begin to prepare for.?
Like many others, the manufacturing industry is going through a digital revolution. Within the context of Industry 4.0, manufacturers are becoming more efficient through the application of automation and data exchange to their existing factory processes.
reuters
ALSO READ:?Top 5G Phones You Should Save Your Money To Buy, If You Want To Be The First One To Enjoy 5G
5G plays a vital role in this transformative process, especially in the enablement of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications. Both will help in the realisation of manufacturers¡¯ Industry 4.0 goals.
Mixed reality (MR) applications are likely to be a key driver for 5G. Beyond the consumer market (think Pok¨¦mon Go), interesting applications are also likely to be found in industrial and medical contexts.
reuters
ALSO READ:?5G Is Coming: We Now Have The First Indian Factory Beginning To Manufacture 5G Equipment
Remote medical procedures, engineering, public safety and field service applications are all strong use case opportunities for the application of low latency 5G services. Whether or not B2B or B2C will lead the way depends on the strategy of the large consumer electronics companies, along with the availability of 5G network coverage
5G will also deliver a significantly enhanced experience for media audiences. A combination of VR and AR with ultra-high-fidelity enabled by 5G could transform the way fans interact with sporting or entertainment events. There is already a lot of excitement about these types of use cases, the potential revenue benefits.
reuters
The opportunity here lies in more than just providing connectivity. Mobile network operators can create partnerships with broadcasters and sportsorganisations to deliver entertainment services directly to customers through their self-service applications.?
This could be used to bring high bandwidth digital services to under-served rural areas in many countries.
reuters
ALSO READ:?We Don't Even Get Proper 3G/4G Download Speed In India, So What's A 5G Phone Going To Run On?
As a result, mobile network operators will then be able to compete directly with wireline, satellite and cable companies ¨C offering new revenue streams and faster ROI.
Arguably the most 5G-centric use case is autonomous driving (level four and above). This is the idea that much of the car, if it not all of it, is controlled not by the driver, but by technology. 5G is critical to the reality of this, as it will offer the connectivity and speed needed to deliver vast amounts of data to one another as well as other objects simultaneously.
reuters
The possibilities associated with autonomous vehicles extend to vehicle sharing as well as a range of V2X type applications.
While these types of use case are extremely interesting, it¡¯s unlikely to be a short-term mass market revenue generating opportunity.
5G provides a powerful opportunity for the mobile industry to reap the benefits of co-operation models. Mobile network operators¡¯ co-operation around network sharing options and spectrum farming represents one area for consideration.
However, it¡¯s vital that collectively, the mobile ecosystem appreciates the limitations associated with frequency allocation, network investment, regulatory restrictions and the availability of funds for investment.?
reuters
If the various parties, including government and the network equipment companies, can work together to identify commercially viable and desirable customer solutions, then 5G can fulfil the vast potential that¡¯s been ascribed to it these past years.
About the author:?Tim Sherwood is the Vice President, Moblility and IoT Solutions at Tata Communications.