Beyond the 5G horizon, a new era of user expectations

Telecom experts explore a future beyond 5G, revealing how Al, loT, and secure infrastructure will transform industries and meet rising user demands

- PUNAM SINGH

The telecommunications industry stands at a crossroads, faced with the excitement of 5G's promise and the challenge of realising its full potential. While 5G networks have rolled out with fanfare, the transformation many envisioned has yet to materialise, especially in the enterprise sector.

Leading telecom experts gathered to explore this gap in a recent panel discussion at the Voice&Data 5G+ Conference. Their conversation revealed both the opportunities and obstacles in pushing 5G beyond a highspeed promise to a technology that will transform entire industries. The session, Redefining User Expectations: What Comes After 5G, was moderated by Jaideep Ghosh, a Harvard Business Review Advisory Council member.

Kicking off the discussion, Ghosh pointed out a key issue: without a defining 'killer application' that brings 5G's potential to life, many enterprises remain hesitant to make significant investments in the technology. Referring to an IBM survey, he noted, "The primary challenge is for operators to retain pricing power by delivering innovative 5G services that truly resonate with enterprise customers." This, he added, is especially pressing given the single-digit growth telecom companies currently face.

5G AND EVOLVING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

Responding to the opening comment, Dr Sidharth Shukla, Head of Emerging Tech and Industry Engagement at Bharti Airtel, spoke about the incremental nature of 5G's progress. While 5G has enhanced mobile broadband, he argued that true transformation lies in its sectorspecific applications, such as Fixed Wireless Access and private networks.

"These applications could redefine connectivity where fibre is not feasible, like remote areas or high-density environments such as stadiums and events," Dr Shukla noted, highlighting the potential of 5G Advanced, which uses network slicing to provide prioritised access based on demand.