Top

MWCA 2018: What Isn't Talked About in 5G?

Mobile World Congress America’s first keynote on Wednesday set the tone for the following days, highlighting two key themes: 5G and artificial intelligence.

According to the first keynote speaker GSMA Director General Mats Granryd, 5G will define the future mobile space, with half of all connections being 5G by 2025. That’s 1.3 billion connections with 268 million being from the Americas on their own.

Artificial intelligence will also redefine the way we interact with the world. The second speaker, Marcelo Claure, COO of SoftBank Group estimated that by 2021, 1.8 billion people will be using chat bots and virtual assistants. In healthcare for example, AI will be able diagnose patients five times faster than an average physician.
These are powerful statistics that show us a lot of what the future will bring. Qualcomm and many other OEMs have also announced that we will see the first real 5G capable devices (no bolt-on accessory) by early 2019, which means we are well on our way to a 5G future.

However, let’s also be clear that full 5G adoption is still years from being fully viable, with REL-16 and enterprise solutions 2-5 years away at least. Many analysts (and also operators and OEMs) agree that while some use cases for 5G exist, it is far from clear which will take-off and be a catalyst for the technology.

At MWCA 2018, there are many vendors touting their 5G capabilities and use cases. However, one thing that is missing from this conversation is any mention of the consumer who will be the first to adopt 5G services. When the first 5G phone comes to market in 2019, who will buy it? Or to put it in a more encompassing framework, what will a consumer use a 5G device for? What problem is it solving for them? Initial adoption will naturally be low until the network expands, more use cases are proven out, and devices get cheaper. But the question is still important to answer, as early adopters are always key to new product launches. Here are my predictions as to why a consumer (I am leaving enterprise aside for now) would want to be the first to buy a 5G capable smartphone:

  • I want to show that I am on the cusp of technological advances”. This consumer seeks out new tech because they gain intrinsic value from being the first to own new technology and being able to show it off to their peers.
  • I need to have the best gaming conditions possible”. Gamers often want to have top-of-the-line gear to gain performance edges over their competition. Lower latency through a 5G device means that gamers can have a slight advantage over others in intense MMORPG-style games.
  • I need to be available at all times as my job/lifestyle depends on it”. This is a bit dramatic, but certain jobs require you to be available 24/7. Previously people may have averted certain areas or events in fear of losing connectivity, but 5G capable devices in 5G enabled cities may allow people greater freedom while still satisfying their need to be reachable.

While these three examples don’t necessarily tell you the type of person that will buy a 5G smartphone, they give us a good understanding of where the initial uptake will be on a needs basis. This will also allow app makers and other players of the ecosystem to target initial products and services to these needs. There is tremendous buzz around 5G right now, with a lot of focus on devices, components, down/upload speeds, etc. However, having a consumer-centric approach allows us to see through all the hype and identify the areas that will see initial adoption of 5G devices.

Maurice Klaehne is a Senior Analyst with Counterpoint Technology Market Research, based out of Boston, USA. He has spent more than five years working as a market researcher and strategy consultant heavily focused on emerging markets and uncovering new growth opportunities for his clients which include business service, CPG, healthcare, and life science companies. Maurice holds a Master’s in International Development and Management from Sweden’s Lund University, and an undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Development from Canada’s McGill University. He is a native German speaker and also speaks fluent French.

Term of Use and Privacy Policy

Counterpoint Technology Market Research Limited

Registration

In order to access Counterpoint Technology Market Research Limited (Company or We hereafter) Web sites, you may be asked to complete a registration form. You are required to provide contact information which is used to enhance the user experience and determine whether you are a paid subscriber or not.
Personal Information When you register on we ask you for personal information. We use this information to provide you with the best advice and highest-quality service as well as with offers that we think are relevant to you. We may also contact you regarding a Web site problem or other customer service-related issues. We do not sell, share or rent personal information about you collected on Company Web sites.

How to unsubscribe and Termination

You may request to terminate your account or unsubscribe to any email subscriptions or mailing lists at any time. In accessing and using this Website, User agrees to comply with all applicable laws and agrees not to take any action that would compromise the security or viability of this Website. The Company may terminate User’s access to this Website at any time for any reason. The terms hereunder regarding Accuracy of Information and Third Party Rights shall survive termination.

Website Content and Copyright

This Website is the property of Counterpoint and is protected by international copyright law and conventions. We grant users the right to access and use the Website, so long as such use is for internal information purposes, and User does not alter, copy, disseminate, redistribute or republish any content or feature of this Website. User acknowledges that access to and use of this Website is subject to these TERMS OF USE and any expanded access or use must be approved in writing by the Company.
– Passwords are for user’s individual use
– Passwords may not be shared with others
– Users may not store documents in shared folders.
– Users may not redistribute documents to non-users unless otherwise stated in their contract terms.

Changes or Updates to the Website

The Company reserves the right to change, update or discontinue any aspect of this Website at any time without notice. Your continued use of the Website after any such change constitutes your agreement to these TERMS OF USE, as modified.
Accuracy of Information: While the information contained on this Website has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, We disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. User assumes sole responsibility for the use it makes of this Website to achieve his/her intended results.

Third Party Links: This Website may contain links to other third party websites, which are provided as additional resources for the convenience of Users. We do not endorse, sponsor or accept any responsibility for these third party websites, User agrees to direct any concerns relating to these third party websites to the relevant website administrator.

Cookies and Tracking

We may monitor how you use our Web sites. It is used solely for purposes of enabling us to provide you with a personalized Web site experience.
This data may also be used in the aggregate, to identify appropriate product offerings and subscription plans.
Cookies may be set in order to identify you and determine your access privileges. Cookies are simply identifiers. You have the ability to delete cookie files from your hard disk drive.