‘Consumers not yet ready for 5G’

GLOBAL CHALLENGE: Nicklas Bergman, a funder, futurist and tech investor, says it would require a lot of convincing for telco players to attract consumers to embrace the 5G technology. He said the demand will pick up as soon as consumers will realize its benefits. (Contributed Photo)
GLOBAL CHALLENGE: Nicklas Bergman, a funder, futurist and tech investor, says it would require a lot of convincing for telco players to attract consumers to embrace the 5G technology. He said the demand will pick up as soon as consumers will realize its benefits. (Contributed Photo)

CONSUMER demand for fifth generation cellular network technology (5G) will pick up only after it proves itself.

This is despite the telco companies and hardware manufacturers’ intensive capital spending, said Nicklas Bergman, a funder, futurist and tech investor.

“I think it’s (5G) a global challenge,” said Bergman, in a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. “All the telcos and hardware manufacturers try to push different things around 5G and I still don’t see that end user, private users or companies really see the benefits yet.”

Bergman, who is one of the keynote speakers during the 15th Asian Carriers Conference (ACC) in Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, said that for an average user whose mobile applications and requirements run perfectly well in the current technology, 5G is not yet a bigger issue unless it is used in advanced machine learnings like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, holograms etc.

“(But even in that sphere), we aren’t there yet,” said Bergman. He said telephone companies will face a bigger challenge in introducing this technology because they would have to invest heavily first before they can see this technology pick up and generate revenues.

Katrina Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global president and chief executive officer, said the move to 5G is already happening but its full adoption may take some time.

“It will happen but not overnight,” said Abelarde, who is ACC’s chairperson.

5G is beyond speed

Abelardo said although companies and countries have already initiated the rollout of 5G, it is mostly about serving their clients with faster internet speed.

“The real promise of 5G is beyond that (speed). It should usher in a new way of collaboration. Aside from telcos onboarding into 5G, the whole ecosystem has to move also. Phones have to be ready; the network configurations have to be different and the machine to machine applications also have to evolve,” she added.

In terms of improving the internet speed, Abelardo said PLDT and Smart have been upgrading their network infrastructure since last year. She said they are also setting up the foundation to prepare for the full adoption of the 5G technology.

In a statement, PLDT Enterprise said that it continues to pioneer efforts that seek to accelerate the country’s 5G adoption. Since November 2018, PLDT-Smart has powered up 5G sites across Luzon, namely Clark Freeport Zone, Makati Central Business District, Ateneo de Manila University and recently, Araneta Center in Cubao.

“Our strategy of developing use cases across verticals aims to leverage on the capabilities of 5G—such as enhanced mobile broadband speeds, ultra-low latency and network intelligence—to further boost the capacity of local industries,” said PLDT first vice president and head of enterprise core business solutions Jojo Gendrano.

This year’s ACC is anchored on the theme: “Stronger Partnerships for Shared Success.” It emphasizes the need of the industry to establish greater collaboration and synergy in the face of increasing technological disruption, declining margins and fast-changing customer preferences. (KOC)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph