STUDY HIGHLIGHTING 5G Pacesetters

5G-enabled consumer services can unlock up to USD 3.7 trillion in cumulative revenue opportunities for communications service providers (CSPs) by 2030. This report outlines that 5G pacesetters who can demonstrate an ability to adopt new technologies, influence consumer perception and are prepared to invest and focus on 5G service innovation, are already stepping ahead of competitors in the race to new revenue opportunities. By exploring new 5G-enabed opportunities, more CSPs can become 5G pacesetters and grow their revenues at the same rate. - Jasmeet Singh Sethi Head of Consumer Lab, Ericsson Research

Until now, analysts have predominantly been focused on measuring service providers’ progress with 5G in terms of coverage rollout and deployment, or network speeds. However, this approach does not provide the full picture when it comes to 5G leadership. It is also important to analyze how efforts to offer a great 5G network experience can improve consumer satisfaction and perception towards service providers and their 5G offerings, and in turn identify who is setting the pace on 5G performance and innovation.

Ericsson ConsumerLab has previously identified that 5G service providers take either a proactive or passive approach. Taking a proactive approach, for example by exploring new pricing models or even curating new services in-house, offers the best opportunities for service providers to reverse or arrest the decline in consumer revenues. In contrast, a passive approach risks missing out on a growth opportunity of up to 2.7 percent CAGR up to 2030.

The recent 5G Pacesetters report (from Ericsson ConsumerLab) builds upon these insights by not only identifying proactive service providers but measuring their progress in 5G based on two aspects: consumer perception and service providers’ own efforts. It brings into focus the four stages of maturity, identifying the strategies and paths that are taken by the most proactive and successful service providers, ‘5G Pacesetters’, to uncover what sets them apart from the rest of the market, and why they win in the eyes of the consumers. With the transition to 5G, service providers have the power to reverse the trend of stagnating and declining consumer revenue, if they take a proactive approach.

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