Market not ready for 5G rollout

CEBU, Philippines — While telecom companies are quick to shell out investments on 5G technology, the market is not yet ready to use it.

“5G is [still] a huge challenge for the [telecom] industry. Customers are yet to see its benefits,” said futurist and tech philosopher Nicklas Bergman.

Bergman was the keynote speaker on this year’s Asian Carriers Conference (ACC) held at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, which opened Tuesday and will run until September 6, 2019.

According to Bergman, customers even from other developed countries have yet to see the benefits of 5G, and for them this next level mobile technology is not a big issue (as of yet).

The 5G or fifth generation wireless technology will enable machines to do intelligent chores, such as self-driving car, among others.

This would also allow, for example, a spectator in a football stadium to watch a live stream of an alternative camera angle of the action that matches what is going on the pitch ahead with no perceivable delay. The 5G technology opens the door for VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) applications in real-time forms.

The Philippines’ big telecom firms like PLDT/Smart and Globe Telecoms announced their respective move to set the network and enable 5G roll out this early.

But Bergman said the ecosystem in general, including the mobile users “are not there yet.”

The Swedish tech philosopher and investor, believes that it is still premature for telcos to invest largely on embracing the technology while the market is yet to demand for it.

On the other hand, PLDT Global president and chief executive officer (CEO) Katrina Luna-Abelarde said that what the company is establishing right now in line of 5G readiness is in the speed infrastructure.

Abelarde said what the company is investing right now towards embracing the 3G capability is setting up the foundation.

“The real promise of 3G is beyond speed,” she said. This means that when 3G technology takes off that will be introduction of driverless cars, smart homes, among others.

At present, the need of customers is still on the speed, she added.

This year’s 15th ACC, which brings in telecom players from all over Asia and other countries, bannered the theme “Stronger Partnerships for Shared Success,” realizing that the regime of technology pushed the spirit of competition away, and working together is the only way to thrive.

ACC is organized by the Philippines’ telecom company PLDT and Smart Communications.