Mobile operators are not the only companies that can deploy 4/5G cellular networks. The rise of IoT and 5G is driving huge new interest in running mobile infrastructure, presenting new opportunities as well as threats for telcos.
While 5G continues to occupy 90% of the industry’s focus, Wi-Fi is quietly entrenching its role for consumers, especially in the home. It is central to media consumption and domestic IoT. In its 20th anniversary year, how will the new WiFi6 – along with whole-home meshes – make it even harder to displace? And how should telcos and others play?
The advent of 5G and network slicing offer the prospect of a shake-up of the structure of wholesale and MVNO models. What should telcos, regulators, current MVNOs and potential new MVNOs do?
After considerable hype and uncertainty, the near term developments for 5G are now much more apparent, including which nations will go first, chip and handset availability, and the use of different spectrum bands.
Recently, Orange passed 22 million homes, Telefónica 20 million, and AT&T is now reaching five million more every year. The Chinese have over 300 million FTTH connections. What does FTTH do for ARPU, churn, OPEX and 5G that makes it so compelling?
Autonomous networks are still many years away, but AI-supported automation is a reality now, which all telcos must master to survive. What steps must telcos take to implement AI in network maintenance, optimisation and planning, and what is it worth?