As 5G rolls out in India in 2022, we will witness enterprises and network providers seeking use cases to implement 5G in business operations. This will see business use of 5G move out of its nascency and the adoption of advanced features such as Ultra Reliability Low Latency Communications (URLLC) and Massive Machine Type Communicators (mMTC) for faster and better results. The ecosystem will expand to include public cloud providers and new open infrastructure for an Open 5G ecosystem, delivering private 5G networks with more capabilities.
The availability of a faster and more reliable network presents an opportunity for businesses across various sectors to ride the tide for digital growth and boost business productivity. 5G will bring in better connectivity, a promise of quicker digital functions, more flexibility and wider reach, enhanced customer experiences, and easier management of data-driven processes. Capitalizing on these opportunities will help organizations improve their productivity and enable them to save and devote the necessary time for operations that are intrinsic to innovation and business success. With 5G, enterprises will also be able to connect with their customers across wider markets with ease and efficiency.
More consumers to drive 5G adoption
While India’s 5G journey is yet to begin, the existing digital ecosystem already offers global vendors and networks huge opportunities to provide technical expertise. We expect to witness the beginning of an accelerated 5G infrastructure deployment serving both urban and rural India by the first half of 2022. This development will boost smartphone penetration and provide a new dimension to India’s digital revolution leading to the adoption of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things, Industrial IoT, edge computing, and robotics across industries like agriculture, e-commerce, healthcare, education, and pharma.
By 2025, 5G networks are likely to cover one-third of the world’s population and by 2027 it is expected to account for almost 50 percent of all mobile subscriptions worldwide. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead 5G adoption with India having around 500 million subscriptions by 2027, making it one of the most significant 5G markets in the world.
AIoT will see further momentum
Industrial processes increasingly rely on sensors that collect data and edge computing to provide almost instantaneous insights to actuators that control processes. The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 will reduce manufacturing costs, improve quality and yields.
Data Analytics, AI and Machine Learning (ML) will penetrate newer market segments and enable better, data-driven decisions for businesses. This will result in more precise, real-time, and predictive analytics for better customer experience.
The growth of private 5G networks
Organizations are also realizing the benefits of private 5G networks. These include the flexibility of control over applications and devices; high bandwidth and low latency support for AI and ML use cases involving thousands of endpoints; and a capacity to generate large volumes of data within a single facility. Private 5G networks will be instrumental in tackling the growing demands of edge-based, data-intensive workloads and delivering seamless and simplified solutions for organizations.
5G-enabed transformation across sectors
5G is capable of creating billion-dollar market opportunities across sectors. The flexibility and reliability of 5G will make it the network of choice across industry verticals, but its real potential lies in leveraging the unification of 5G and edge computing to open doors to unlimited technological possibilities. In heathcare, for example, remote surgeries, improved image processing, access to patient reports, and faster data processing will help provide better healthcare facilities and patient treatment across geographies.
Smart factories will become a reality with 5G allowing increased automation and adoption of AI and ML, AR/VR, and IoT, which will lead to increased safety and improved performance with the adoption of robotics, AR, and drones for training and repairs and maintenance.
Conclusion
5G transformation will not be an overnight or simple upgrade, but a gradual architectural evolution. 5G globally is seen as a game-changer for economies. In India, it is expected to create an impact of more than USD 1 trillion by 2035 and pave the path for a new wave of innovations that can transform communities.