Mobile network operators are far better prepared for 5G than they were this time last year. That’s the finding of the Ericsson 5G Readiness Survey 2017.
For its second annual 5G Readiness Survey, Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson asked 50 executives involved in business and technical areas for 37 global network operators - all of which have confirmed that they are working on 5G.
This year’s report shows that a good number of operators have ramped up preparations for the next generation mobile network. Indeed, 78 percent of this year’s respondents said that they were involved in 5G trials, compared to just 32 percent in 2016.
Meanwhile, 36 percent of the operators asked said that they have a clear strategy in place for addressing industry segments with 5G, which is double the number of last year. The same proportion said that they had a clear strategy in place for 5G business models, which is up from 21 percent in 2016.
Another key development concerns the focus of those 5G plans. While in 2016 a massive 90 percent of respondents rated consumers as the main segment of their 5G plans, this year there’s more or less an even three-way split.
Besides consumers, mobile operators have identified enterprise users and ‘specialised industries’ as equally important 5G-related business opportunities.
The reason for this shift seems to be the perception that the consumer market is becoming saturated.
On the business side, operators feel there are important 5G opportunities in media and entertainment, automotive, public transport, healthcare and utilities. The Internet of Things is also seen as an important 5G focus for the majority of respondents.
The executives quizzed felt that 5G will bring their companies additional revenue through increased market share, the migration of 4G subscribers, the ability to charge higher prices for new services, and by expanding into those new business and industry segments mentioned above.
Read the 5G Readiness Survey here
Image credit: Ericsson
Jon has nine years experience of writing and editing copy for leading publications, as well as attending technology shows and events and conducting interviews. Currently working with 5G.co.uk, TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, T3, Digital Spy, What Mobile, Pocket Gamer, and The Gadget Show.
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