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.

Read more: 5G and MEC: The new frontier for telecommunications operators at the edge

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.

Read more: The telecoms industry will never be the same again

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).

Read more: How SD-WAN optimises SaaS for CSPs to grow offerings

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.

Read more: How key Asia Pacific countries are faring against one another in 5G adoption

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).

Read more: 5G and the impact on next-generation data centres

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.

Read more: Chinese tech giants blacklisted amid China-US tech war

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.

Read more: BT makes cybersecurity child’s play

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. 

Read more: Exploring the 5G ecosystem’s newest “cloud for business” model

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.

Read more: Challenges and opportunities for the telecommunications industry in 2021

“GITEX Technology Week is an exceptional event and we are always eager to participate in it. But this year we have a surprise for our customers and partners; we will broadcast our activities directly to almost 150 cities around the world, so that those who cannot attend are able to experience our presence virtually. It’s the perfect opportunity to find out about the latest technical solutions we have developed to enable business sustainability and the globalization of work.”

Read more: It’s showtime for Avaya at GITEX 2020

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