LIVE FROM 5G WEEK, LONDON: Major operators Vodafone UK, Three UK, Virgin Media O2 and BT UK explained demand for standalone (SA) 5G enterprise services was high, but companies were hesitant to pull the trigger due to high costs.
On a keynote panel, Vodafone UK head of infrastructure and energy Francesca Serravalle noted the current economic climate had restricted operator moves to achieve the full business potential offered by the technology.
Serravalle explained automakers including BMW and Ford Motor Company were among those employing Vodafoneās SA 5G network, adding the technology āis unique because it can drive more business models and enable network slicingā.
The executive tipped cloud platforms and accessible APIs as crucial factors in emerging enterprises.
Viraj Abhayawardhana, principal network strategy at BT, noted building SA 5G infrastructure requires time and huge investment, which may be hard to justify compared with ā4G or public Wi-Fiā networks which can be āfit for purpose in customer use casesā.
But he noted SA 5G ācan be a game changer for business operationsā.
During the panel, experts from all four companies argued an investment-friendly environment would be beneficial to progress 5G enterprise offerings, citing red tape and regulations as hindrances.
Original article can be seen at: