The 2024 MWC Las Vegas convention, held from October 8-10, was a telling event for the 5G tech industry, with a sharp focus on enterprise 5G. This year’s theme resonated deeply with many attendees, including myself, as it highlighted not only the transformative potential of 5G in enterprise settings but more importantly the critical role that Private 5G deployments are playing in the overall adoption of 5G technologies.
Reflecting on the 2023 MWC Las Vegas convention, where AI was the central theme, it’s clear that enterprise 5G has now taken center stage. This shift builds on the momentum created by AI’s integration into various technologies. It underscores the importance of low latency, highly managed private 5G networks in successful AI at the edge deployments.
Day 1: Enterprise IT and 5G Innovation
The convention was packed with insightful sessions on 5G for enterprise IT. One of the standout presentations was by T-Mobile, which announced a significant push into the enterprise 5G sector. Ulf Ewaldsson, T-Mobile’s President of Technology, emphasized leveraging T-Mobile’s extensive experience in the consumer sector to make a mark in the enterprise space. A highlight of its strategy is introducing a new “5G on demand” box, which promises to be set up within 48 hours, showcasing its flexibility and rapid deployment capabilities.
US Cellular also made a few waves with its presentation amidst an impending acquisition by T-Mobile. US Cellular delved into the financial aspects of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and outlined its strategy to drive revenue through low-bandwidth FWA users, such as enterprise backup services. A key point was the role of external FWA antennas in optimizing spectral efficiency, with potential improvements of up to 65%. Who knew that slow connections were so impactful to the overall capacity of a cellular network?
Ronnie Vasishta, SVP of Telecoms at Nvidia, delivered a compelling keynote on the role of AI in the next generation of wireless connectivity. Harking back to 2023, Vasishta positioned AI as the “killer app” that telecom companies have been searching for, highlighting industrial use cases such as connected workers and autonomous vehicles. Vasishta’s insights demonstrated the symbiotic relationship between AI and 5G, suggesting that AI could catalyze broader enterprise 5G adoption.
Day 2: Exploring API Services and Future Opportunity
The second day of MWC Las Vegas 2024 shifted focus to the opportunities of API services supported by 5G infrastructure. In her keynote on Day 2, Elena Fersman, VP and Head of Global AI Accelerator at Ericsson, discussed the changing landscape of 5G use cases and Ericsson’s role in “opening up things in general” through its active involvement in an API consortium launched in September.
The sessions emphasized a “build it and they will come” approach, acknowledging that while specific use cases may not yet be fully realized, the infrastructure and potential are in place. This forward-looking perspective encourages innovation and experimentation, paving the way for future applications that can leverage the robust capabilities of 5G. No financial projections were discussed, but the Telcos see API development as a critical component of a profitable 5G business.
Analyst’s Take
Throughout the convention, it was evident that the industry is still grappling with the challenge of widespread 5G adoption. However, the discussions and presentations at MWC Las Vegas 2024 provided a clear roadmap for pushing through the 5G deployment stall. The 5G industry views enterprise 5G deployments as crucial for driving 5G adoption and generating essential revenue streams to justify past and future infrastructure investments.
By focusing on enterprise Private 5G, practical use cases (connected worker), financial strategies (API&FWA), and the integration of AI, the event highlighted the multifaceted approach needed to drive 5G forward.
MWC Las Vegas 2024 showcased the latest technological advancements and fostered critical discussions on the future of connectivity. As someone deeply invested in this field, I found the convention both enlightening and inspiring, reaffirming the immense potential of 5G in transforming enterprise IT. With continued innovation and collaboration, the vision of a fully connected, AI-enhanced enterprise future seems attainable, now more than ever.
