As 5G technology becomes increasingly widespread, attention is veering towards high band 5G mmWave spectrum to deliver greater capacity and faster performance levels for data-intensive 5G mobile communications such as video communications, as well as virtual and augmented reality.
The telecommunications industry has been the pillar of societies worldwide – tasked with the mammoth role of supporting the abrupt shift to work-from-home, remote learning, and other virtual activities in a pandemic-stricken environment mired by lockdowns.
According to GSA, 144 operators in 61 countries or territories have launched commercial 3GPP-compatible 5G. As digital transformation becomes a global trend in today’s 5G environment, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) offers telecommunications operators computing solutions at the edge to leverage on 5G promises and monetize 5G infrastructure to reap revenue from next-generation services.
When I think of the telecommunications industry, “What is essential is invisible to the eye” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in The Little Prince immediately comes to mind. From keeping us informed of the latest news and entertained while we stay home, to ensuring business continuity, we hardly notice our heavy reliance on the invisible networks that keep us connected – except when they disconnect.
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is fast becoming the go-to technology for enterprises that require agility and flexibility when deploying new services or improvising existing ones. A significant departure from on-premise solutions, SaaS offers quicker and less complex deployments, as well as improved cost optimisation and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).
Asia Pacific (APAC) is a hotbed for 5G technology adoption. According to GlobalData, APAC will lead in terms of 5G technology adoption with over a billion subscribers, accounting for 65% of global 5G subscribers by 2024. In the region, South Korea, China, and Japan will dominate 5G markets.
The shift from 4G to 5G yields benefits like increased bandwidth, decreased latency and increased connection density. These 5G benefits bode well against a global backdrop increasingly powered by IoT, driven by developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
What started as a trade war between the world’s two superpowers evolved into a tech war with no sign of abating, as the US targets Chinese telecommunications providers in one of the latest tech retaliations against China even as Trump’s presidency comes to a near end.
Singapore’s journey towards digital transformation and inclusion must be supported by cybersecurity talent to maintain a secure cyberspace in an increasingly connected landscape. In line with Singapore’s initiative to grow a talent pool, BT, a leading provider of global communications and security solutions, and Standard Chartered launched a new cyber security educational programme in Singapore. The Schools Cyber Security Challenges (SCSC) is a pilot initiative with the Tanglin Trust School (TTS) to nurture the future generation of digitally-savvy young people.
Given the potential and promise of 5G, it comes as no surprise that the next generation mobile network is dominating technology industry headlines. However, while 5G is a generational boost for wireless networks, it’s important to recognize a more significant technology shift which impacts the migration to 5G networks: the cloud for business.
