5G
“ The fact is that relatively minimal floor space in buildings is currently served by indoor 5G connectivity – Ericsson estimates it to be at 10-15 %. This makes for a huge addressable market , and one that operators will be targeting this year ”
KATHERINE AINLEY CEO , ERICSSON UK & I
“ The reason we ’ re talking about network slicing now is because it ’ s only possible on standalone 5G network infrastructure . So , as operators launch their standalone networks this year , we need to come together as an industry and deliver the next set of inspiring 5G opportunities .
“ The UK needs to be at the forefront of this technology revolution to power our own economic growth in the future .”
The growth of the indoor coverage market Another of the avenues where the largest growth is anticipated , in Ainley ’ s words , is that of indoor 5G .
“ Indoor 5G coverage will be one of the biggest emerging markets in the UK telecoms industry over the next 12 months . As consumers , over 80 % of the data we use is inside – think about the number of times you ’ ve scrambled to get a connection in an office , airport , train station , shopping centre or sports stadium ,” Ainley outlines .
“ The fact is that relatively minimal floor space in buildings is currently served by indoor 5G connectivity – Ericsson estimates it to be at just 10-15 %. This makes for a huge addressable market ; one that operators will be targeting this year .”
This is another area where 5G standalone networks will be a game changer : its lower frequency radio waves mean significantly better coverage can be delivered indoors .
“ But , because this market is so huge , and the full benefits of 5G standalone networks are still some way off , 5G needs to be complemented with targeted indoor solutions ,” Ainley says .
The currently fragmented in-building market primarily consists of Distributed Antenna Systems and small cells . As a result , the indoor technology decisionmaking process is typically difficult and time-consuming . Ainley explains that Ericsson ’ s additions to its indoor 5G portfolio have been designed to both support customers ’ simplicity and monetisation goals , while offering a scalable solution suitable for any indoor environment or situation .
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