1G to 4G have largely followed a usage centric model wherein the revenues have generally correlated with the usage. 5G is likely to be quite different. Additionally, the ecosystem is very different. Mobile operators have long dominated the space but as we have discussed in our 4th Wave series of papers, 4th Wave has created a much broader ecosystem across many dimensions and have brought in other industries especially commerce, transportation, and health. However, 5G is an essential layer of the Connected Intelligence growth curve. Whenever new capability enters the ecosystem, new players are born, new revenue streams are started. Rise of smartphones gave birth to Ubers and Whatsapp of the world. Rise of LTE networks enabled the exploding video ad revenue streams of Facebook and Google. We expect 5G to have even a much larger impact in creating new opportunities. There are challenges of course in the business economics of building out the networks but the opportunities over the next decade are going to be profound. Chetan Sharma Consulting has been doing some leading research work on 5G that is shaping the opinions of market leaders. We have explored various aspects of the technology curve in more details in our 5G series of papers:
5G Policy Recommendations: A Guide for Governments, Regulators, and the Ecosystem
5G Maturity Model: If 5G is a Race, How should we Measure it?
5G Edge Computing (in partnership with Intel)
US Market: 5G and the Enterprise
5G – The Enterprise Opportunity
The Mobile Network As A Platform – Planning for the 5G World (joint project with Ericsson)
Predicting 5G: Can the Past Teach Us About the Future?
5G Economics: An Economics Based Analysis of The Future of Wireless Networks (first industry paper to deal with the economics of 5G)
5G: The Past, The Present, and The Future of Network Evolution