The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona set an optimistic tone for the telco industry, marking what many are calling a “halftime” for 5G. In an interesting discussion with Erik Ekudden, CTO of Ericsson, industry analysts Patrick Moorhead and Daniel Newman explored the future of mobile innovation and the exciting developments in 5G, AI, and cloud technologies. Main article here –https://moorinsightsstrategy.com/the-six-five/whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-mobile-six-five-media-from-mwc-2025/ and I present the main takeaways in the below post.
(Image Credit – TechRadar)
Key Takeaways:
- 5G Standalone Networks: A New Era of Connectivity
Ericsson feels that 5G standalone (SA) networks mark a significant turning point in the telecommunications industry. These networks, independent of existing 4G infrastructure, offer enhanced capabilities such as ultra-low latency, massive device connectivity, and network slicing. This opens doors for a plethora of innovative services and applications across various sectors, including:
- Enterprise: 5G SA can enable smart factories with real-time automation, predictive maintenance, and enhanced worker safety.
- Government: Governments can leverage 5G SA for smart city initiatives, including intelligent traffic management, public safety enhancements, and efficient energy utilization.
- Consumers: Consumers can experience ultra-fast broadband, immersive AR/VR applications, and seamless IoT connectivity.
- Open Network APIs: Fostering Innovation and Collaboration
Open network APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) provide standardized ways for external developers and businesses to access and interact with network functionalities. This fosters a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, where third-party developers can create new applications and services that leverage the power of 5G networks. This can lead to:
- New business models: Telecom operators can explore revenue-sharing models with developers, or offer premium APIs for specialized services.
- Enhanced user experiences: Developers can create personalized and context-aware applications that cater to specific user needs.
- Accelerated time-to-market: Open APIs streamline the development process, enabling faster deployment of new services.
- AI Integration: The Brain Behind Intelligent Networks
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming integral components of 5G networks. AI can optimize network performance, automate network management tasks, and enable intelligent service delivery. Additionally, AI can power new user experiences, such as:
- Real-time assistance: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide instant support and guidance to users.
- Immersive AR/VR: AI can enhance AR/VR experiences by providing realistic object recognition, scene understanding, and personalized content delivery.
- Predictive analytics: AI can analyze user behavior and network traffic patterns to anticipate user needs and proactively optimize network resources.
- Real-World Applications: Transforming Industries with 5G
Ericsson’s 5G solutions are already making a tangible impact across various industries:
- Smart Factories: 5G-enabled factories can achieve higher levels of automation, efficiency, and flexibility, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs.
- Connected Hospitals: 5G can enable remote patient monitoring, telemedicine consultations, and real-time data sharing between healthcare providers, improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
- Immersive AR/VR: 5G’s low latency and high bandwidth make it ideal for delivering immersive AR/VR experiences for entertainment, education, and training purposes.
- Enhanced Public Safety: 5G can support real-time video surveillance, emergency response coordination, and disaster management, enhancing public safety and security.
- Convergence of AI, Cloud, and Mobile: The Future of Mobile Innovation
The next wave of mobile innovation will be driven by the convergence of AI, cloud computing, and 5G networks. This will enable:
- New form factors: Devices will become more intelligent and context-aware, adapting to user needs and environmental conditions.
- Novel use cases: The combination of AI, cloud, and 5G will unlock new possibilities in areas such as healthcare, education, and entertainment.
- Seamless user experiences: Users will enjoy seamless connectivity and personalized services across multiple devices and platforms.
- Edge Computing: Bringing Intelligence Closer to the Action
Edge computing involves processing data closer to its source, reducing latency and improving response times. This is critical for applications that require real-time decision-making, such as:
- Autonomous vehicles: Edge computing can enable vehicles to process sensor data and make split-second decisions, enhancing safety and reliability.
- Smart cities: Edge computing can support intelligent traffic management, environmental monitoring, and public safety applications.
- Industrial IoT: Edge computing can enable real-time data analysis and machine control in factories, improving efficiency and reducing downtime.
- Business Model Innovation: The Key to Unlocking 5G’s Potential
The biggest challenge and opportunity for telecom operators lies in developing innovative business models that can capture the value created by 5G networks. This may involve:
- Partnering with other industries: Telecom operators can collaborate with businesses in other sectors to develop and deliver 5G-enabled solutions.
- Offering flexible pricing models: Operators can explore usage-based pricing, tiered service plans, and value-added services to cater to diverse customer needs.
- Investing in new capabilities: Operators need to invest in new technologies, skills, and partnerships to build the capabilities required to succeed in the 5G era.
According to Ericsson, 5G represents a paradigm shift in connectivity, with the potential to transform industries, create new business models, and enhance our daily lives. The key to success lies in embracing innovation, collaboration, and a customer-centric approach.
Looking Ahead:
As we look ahead to 2025, AI approaches are poised to significantly augment and enhance 5G deployments, pushing the boundaries of network capabilities and efficiency. Advanced machine learning algorithms will likely be deeply integrated into network management systems, enabling predictive maintenance that can anticipate and prevent outages before they occur. Self-optimizing networks (SON) powered by AI will become more sophisticated, dynamically adjusting network parameters in real-time to ensure optimal performance under varying conditions. Furthermore, AI-driven network slicing will allow for more granular and efficient allocation of network resources, tailoring connectivity to specific use cases with unprecedented precision. These AI enhancements will not only improve the overall performance and reliability of 5G networks but also enable new, innovative services that can adapt intelligently to user needs and network conditions.
For 5G Standalone Networks and Edge Computing, deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agents could be deployed to optimize network slicing and resource allocation dynamically. These agents would learn from network performance data and user behavior patterns to make real-time decisions on resource distribution. For instance, in a smart factory setting, DRL agents could autonomously adjust network parameters to support critical operations during peak production times while ensuring consistent performance across other network segments.
Federated learning could be implemented to improve edge computing capabilities while maintaining data privacy. This approach allows AI models to be trained across multiple edge devices without centralizing the data, enabling personalized services while adhering to data protection regulations. In smart cities, federated learning could enable traffic management systems to learn from local patterns without sharing sensitive data between different city zones.
For Open Network APIs and Business Model Innovation, natural language processing (NLP) and generative AI could be employed to create more intuitive API interfaces. These AI systems could understand developer intent from natural language queries and automatically generate appropriate API calls or even entire code snippets. This would significantly lower the barrier to entry for developers looking to leverage 5G network capabilities.
Agentic AI could revolutionize business model innovation through autonomous negotiation agents. These agents could represent different stakeholders (network operators, service providers, end-users) and engage in real-time negotiations to determine optimal pricing, resource allocation, and service level agreements. This could lead to highly dynamic and personalized service offerings that adapt to individual user needs and network conditions in real-time.
In Industry Applications and Convergence scenarios, multi-agent systems could be deployed to handle complex, interdependent tasks. For example, in a connected hospital, different AI agents could be responsible for patient monitoring, resource allocation, and treatment planning. These agents would collaborate and negotiate to optimize overall healthcare delivery while adapting to emergencies and changing priorities.
Explainable AI (XAI) techniques would be crucial in these scenarios to ensure transparency and build trust. For instance, in autonomous vehicles leveraging 5G and edge computing, XAI could provide clear explanations for vehicle decisions, enhancing user trust and aiding in regulatory compliance.
Looking towards 2025 and beyond, we might see the emergence of self-evolving AI systems that can autonomously identify new use cases for 5G networks. These systems could analyze patterns in network usage, user behavior, and emerging technologies to propose and even implement new services without human intervention. For example, they might identify an opportunity for a new augmented reality service that combines data from multiple IoT devices and automatically create the necessary network configurations and APIs to support it.
Quantum machine learning (another theme at MWC 2025), while still in its early stages, could potentially offer unprecedented computational power for network optimization and predictive analytics. This could enable real-time processing of vast amounts of network data, leading to more accurate predictions and optimizations.
However, as these AI systems become more autonomous and powerful, ensuring ethical AI deployment will be crucial. Implementing robust AI governance frameworks, regular audits, and fail-safe mechanisms will be necessary to maintain control and alignment with human values. The key challenge will be balancing the benefits of highly autonomous, intelligent networks with the need for human oversight and intervention when necessary.
Conclusion
As we move into the latter half of the 5G era, the focus is transitioning from technology implementation to monetization and tangible impact. The combination of 5G, AI, and edge computing is creating new opportunities across multiple sectors. However, to realize this potential, we need both technological advancements and innovative business models and partnerships within the ecosystem.
Ericsson’s vision underscores the significance of scalable, programmable networks that can accommodate a broad array of use cases. 5G is poised to transform numerous industries in the coming years, from enhancing manufacturing efficiency to improving public safety and healthcare.
Moving forward, success will depend on the ability to build flexible, secure, and high-performance networks that can adapt to diverse requirements while enabling new business models. With ongoing advancements in network APIs, AI integration, and edge computing, the second half of the 5G era promises to be even more groundbreaking and transformative than the first.