“It’s about saving lives with faster networks and smarter systems.”

“With 5G SA, we can expose parameters like quality of service to developers. That enables new services we haven’t even imagined”

Rahul Kalia, Managing Partner for IBM UK & Ireland, echoes Blessing’s sentiment: “Working with our ecosystem partners, we will deliver mission-critical services for first responders to enhance safety in our communities across Great Britain.”

Blessing reiterates the significance of collaboration and the transformative potential of 5G, noting: “Faster connectivity means faster decisions, real-time video feeds and better response in disasters. That’s the level of transformation we’re enabling.”

VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF CLOUD SOFTWARE & SERVICES FOR THE UK AND IRELAND, ERICSSON

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TELECOMS AND EDGE COMPUTING

It marks a dramatic evolution from closed telecom systems to open platforms. Ericsson’s acquisition of Vonage and the formation of the Fauna consortium are central to the shift.

“Fauna brings operators together – Vodafone, EE, Three, Virgin Media O2 – to standardise how networks expose capabilities,” Blessing explains. “It ensures developers, whether they’re from Uber or DHL, have a consistent experience across networks.”

He sees enormous societal potential in these kinds of innovations. “We could verify someone’s location before authorising a bank withdrawal or confirm identity before a cross-border transfer. Such fraudprevention and security use cases weren’t possible before.”

Opening the network: programmability and exposure

Blessing is adamant that more needs to be done to accelerate the 5G SA rollout. “Data demand isn’t going to shrink. 5G SA provides the performance, efficiency and coverage we need. With government support, we can close the digital divide and unlock economic growth.”

Blessing is enthusiastic about the shift toward network exposure and the ability to open up network capabilities to external developers. “With 5G SA, we can expose parameters like quality of service to developers. That enables new services we haven’t even imagined,” he explains.

Ultimately, he believes collaboration is key: “By harmonising how we expose network capabilities, we empower developers to create extraordinary services that will shape the digital landscape.”

A good example is drone delivery, he adds: “To ensure drones navigate safely and deliver packages reliably, developers need access to real-time network metrics. Network exposure makes that possible.”

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Realising the 5G promise

As Blessing looks toward the future, he’s hopeful that adoption will match the pace of innovation. “What I would love to see is the ecosystem fully embracing what 5G standalone and network exposure can offer,” he says. “The potential is enormous, but we need wider understanding and commitment to unlock it.”

He sees the Emergency Services Network collaboration with IBM as just the beginning: “It’s transformational, connecting hundreds of thousands of responders with technology designed to save lives. But imagine if we applied the same thinking to rail, to defence, to connected hospitals.

“We have the technology. It’s time to dream big. 5G can sit at the heart of national infrastructure, encompassing public safety, healthcare and even national security. The question is: how boldly are we willing to apply it?”

Blessing’s vision is an industrywide one, as a recent comment from Matt Hatton, Founding Partner, Transforma Insights supports: “5G and cloud-native technologies are not just about faster speeds – they’re about enabling new possibilities for public safety, healthcare, transport and beyond. The UK’s leadership in deploying advanced networks will have a profound impact on society, provided all stakeholders work together to maximise the benefits.”

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Ericsson global corporate headquaters,

Stockholm, Sweden