5 Steps Operators Must Take to Monetize 5G
Service providers across the globe are under immense pressure to monetize 5G infrastructure investments while driving costs out of their business models. Solving this challenge is hard as service providers face the unenviable task of needing to maximize ROI by exploiting opportunities yet to fully reveal themselves.
Edge computing will usher in a wave of next-gen applications that will utilize the low latency and higher bandwidth promised by 5G, creating new revenue streams for services providers — but only if they have the infrastructure in place to deliver them.
Here are five solutions service providers need to leverage in order to pave the way to 5G success.
1. Applications tailored to specific industries
Before service providers can tap into the new value being created at the edge of the network, they must identify and understand vertical use cases and the related applications most likely to gain market traction.
Integrated edge solutions should not be treated as Swiss Army knives that can easily support a broad range of uses cases. Unique combinations of hardware and software must be aligned with vertical use cases to optimize performance. Do this and you'll be one step closer to truly harnessing the power of the edge.
2. Connected end users to consume those applications
Carrier networks don't extend everywhere and some of the applications leveraging edge computing will be consumed by end users in buildings, factories or other customer-premise environments.
Service providers can utilize private LTE to deliver fast, efficient and secure networks that are optimized for local services.
4. Virtualized central offices capable of processing massive amounts of data closer to the user
Simply put, the networks of today are not sustainable for the demand of tomorrow. Without overhaul, those networks will eventually become extinct, as will the service providers behind them. Networks and network functions must be virtualized to increase agility and drive cost efficiencies.
Next-generation central offices are integral in delivering the low latency and increased bandwidth capability promised by 5G connectivity.
5. A scalable, modernized network architecture that embraces bandwidth demand
Today's 4G networks support roughly 4,000 devices per square mile. 5G connectivity will dramatically increase that figure to roughly 3 million devices per square mile. It no longer makes sense for all the data collected from those devices to be processed in a national or regional data center.
A virtualized Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG) helps operators embrace this bandwidth demand at the edge to maximize performance and support increased subscriber density while retaining the highest throughput and cost efficiency.
WWT's vBNG solution, built on top of the latest release of the 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, simplifies network design, enhances scalability and is an important network element to support the expected rush of traffic brought to the network by broader adoption of 5G connectivity and IoT.
WWT is fundamentally transforming the service provider industry by helping service providers efficiently consume next-generation technology with validated multi-vendor solutions that are deployed at scale.