A newly released poll shows that a significantly larger percentage of wireless operators conducted 5G tests this year — and that they are increasingly focused on enterprise and industrial applications for the next-generation systems.
Ericsson’s latest 5G Readiness Survey, conducted in July, showed that 78 percent of respondents were involved in 5G trials this year, up from 32 percent last year.
Participating executives also suggested that increasing saturation of the consumer 5G market prompted companies to shift to other markets. Although 52 percent of respondents planned for the consumer segment, 56 percent targeted business applications and 58 percent sought industrial applications.
A majority of poll participants also said that the Internet of Things — and related collaboration with third-parties — would be critical to the development of 5G.
“In the 2016 survey, 90 percent of the respondents pointed to consumers as the main segment in their 5G business planning,” Ericsson 5G commercialization head Thomas Noren said in a statement. “This year, it is an even split between three segments and operators have identified business opportunities not only in the consumer segment but also with enterprise users and specialized industries.”
The survey signaled that enterprise and industrial systems would be among the ways to monetize 5G, along with higher prices for new services, migration from 4G systems and increased market share. Respondents identified the media and entertainment and automotive and public transport sectors as the most attractive for 5G applications, but said health care and energy and utilities could also see significant interest.
The report featured responses from 50 executives, in either business or technical roles, for 37 global operators with publicly announced 5G ambitions.
