With baselines for 5G consumer plans starting at the top end of 4G plans (for example, 100 Gb buckets and higher) and enterprise applications already generating IP traffic in terabytes per second, it should not be hard to see how the use of data from 2023 onwards is going to scale quite rapidly.
Increasing data demand
The rapidly increasing demand for application-driven data, especially from those with high data consumption, will eventually exceed the target operating cost for 4G networks. Soon, there will be a tipping point where 5G will be the preferred technology because of the cost and capacity to serve the demand for data. Currently, 4G is still sufficient to handle most use cases in the market.
Emerging technologies used in combination with 5G are bringing better value to the industry. The combination of 5G with standalone (SA) support, network slicing capabilities, edge computing, AI, and cloud will drive the next wave of growth within the telecoms industry. While we are not there yet, many can see the value of 5G and how it can transform the industry. One example is enabling mission-critical services that depend on real-time decision-making and leverage high resolution and responsiveness. Many more use cases have been tested in recent years and are starting to make their way to commercialization in 2023.
With the industry buzzing with strategic partnerships constantly being announced, we expect the floodgates to open and unleash a host of innovations and new business models that will arise from the transformational power of 5G backed by the power of technological convergence. With more partnerships (with companies having skin in the game) innovating and developing tools and services, beyond-connectivity deployments will become easier, faster, and more prevalent.
More 5G Standalone in 2023
With more 5G Standalone (SA) deployments and implementation of network slicing capabilities in live networks in 2023, the availability of new capabilities will start to impact a wider audience. 2023 will see greater data growth and technological convergence. We can expect mobile operators to put greater emphasis on improving customer experience and driving network automation. This will make sense, as 5G has the capability to humanize technology and monitor channels in real-time using artificial intelligence and automation. Improving customer experience with 5G can also help with 5G monetization. By addressing 5G monetization, adoption rates will respond better to 5G development.
The timing is also right as, from next year, we will start to see what the post-COVID-19 pandemic era will look like. With better clarity on where technology is needed, solution development can speed up to address the pace at which need is evolving. If past success is anything to go by, it is always helpful to have the right solution meet need at the right time. Let’s see if the fireworks will start.
We are at the doorway to the next chapter. Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023!
Related article: 2022 was not great, could 2023 bring some stability?
By Quah Mei Lee, a Director with Frost & Sullivan’s ICT practice. Working on Mobile & Wireless Research for Asia-Pacific, her area of expertise lies in telecoms strategy with a specific interest in 5G.
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