The rapid rollout of 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) and the eagerness of consumers to embrace it in their homes via a shared cloud that provides unlimited storage for both mobile and the home devices will deliver to operators an opportunity to unlock significant revenue streams while increasing their relevance and relationships with customers.
How?
The positive impact on customer satisfaction cannot be downplayed. The capabilities of a single home cloud will result in a much-improved sharing experience across devices and between individuals. One operator plan that covers everyone and all devices is also a bonus for subscribers who have been managing multiple clouds to accommodate multiple devices and users.
The appeal of 5G speed on a home network cannot be discounted, either. 5G FWA has the potential to deliver data speeds that exceed current broadband networks. This is a huge plus for subscribers who demand high speed video connectivity at home, expect instantaneous cloud uploads and downloads of massive files, and envision the ability to view or stream those files from the cloud instead of from their electronic devices.
And although trust has little direct connection to 5G FWA, we cannot discount the well-earned reputation operators have for protecting subscriber privacy as well as their digital content. The appeal of an operator personal cloud offering continues to rise as many other cloud providers regularly monetize customer data and online activity for their own gain as well as suffer security breaches.
The bottom line: Now is the time for operators to get a jump on the fast-coming whole home value-added services opportunity made possible by a 5G FWA-powered carrier grade cloud offering – a set of services that includes protecting the precious data and content of every member of a household, safeguarding security system feeds, and much more.
#1: Personal Cloud: A Content ‘Super App’ for 202
Telcos, insurers, retailers and other enterprises that have added a backup-focused personal cloud to their core services can cement their roles as essential services providers by introducing new functionality into their cloud offerings. The creation of what is, in essence, a “super cloud” will enable new ways for cloud providers to delight their customers and furnish a great customer experience as well as deliver competitive differentiation and revenue opportunities.
The fastest and most efficient way is to integrate disparate apps via APIs and SDKs that give customers unique ways to naturally expand interaction with their content within the cloud and use that content in novel ways – whether that be real-time tagging and instantaneous sharing with contacts or providing personally curated memories that can be easily packaged with a flower delivery for Mother’s Day, a wedding anniversary or other special events. The possibilities are endless.
#2: Blockchain Poised to Transform Operator Processes and Business Models
With blockchain set as the next big telco industry disrupter, 2022 will be the year that blockchain gains mainstream acceptance. Operators must seriously consider how they are going to leverage this game-changing technology that will radically modernizes industry processes.
One area in particular – revenue assurance – will quickly undergo an especially dramatic transformation because of blockchain. Take the purchasing of supplemental network capacity, for example. Traditionally, the accuracy of the process is rife with challenges, especially when it comes to invoicing. Millions of dollars are tied up annually over disputed invoices. Resolving such disagreements is a protracted, complex and expensive process.
Blockchain changes this process dramatically in the way it serves as an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties in a verifiable, permanent manner. Smart contracts confirm specific conditions are met before a sale. Every transaction, including payment, is corroborated and takes place in near-real time instead of weeks or months. Each party has complete access to the blockchain ledger so all elements of the exchange are fully transparent. In other words, the traditional – and expensive – revenue assurance part of an exchange equation is eradicated.
The bottom line: Blockchain’s ability to manage all sorts of transactions in a decentralized and transparent way is set to dramatically re-define settlement, roaming, payments, identity management and fraud, contracting, supplier verification, and much more. Already, some of the world’s leading operators are adopting new processes made possible by the technology. The time has come for all operators – no matter their size – to dip their toes into the blockchain waters. If not, they risk being left behind.
#3: Network Planning Automation Becomes a Key Requirement For 2022
As we move into 2022, it is abundantly clear that network planning automation is no longer a “nice to have” but a “must have” for telecommunications companies and network operators. In recent years, planning and network budgets have tightened. The pressure to quickly implement network expansions and upgrades has heightened as competition for new subscribers accelerates. And the demand to provide a stellar network experience that retains loyal subscribers and attracts new ones has never been greater. We believe automation is the only way for all of these mandates to be successfully met.
5G has only intensified consumer expectations: The demand for ubiquitous 5G accessibility across mobile devices and in homes, in combination with both the high cost and complexity of planning and building a 5G network, places an operator’s reputation and bottom line at risk if it makes any missteps during the rollout process. While the next generation of cellular technology represents a huge commercial opportunity for operators, on a more practical level it has triggered a significant challenge when it comes to network and capacity planning.
The truth is that processes and legacy systems traditionally used to design, manage and maintain networks just aren’t practical any longer. Manual planning is painfully slow and can encompass years whereas automation allows for smart decisions in weeks or months. Moreover, mistakes from traditional planning can be costly both in terms of time and hardware and software investments. Automation allows providers to optimize network scenarios quickly and accurately at both the macro and micro level, as well as predict associated equipment costs, and achieve the agility required to deliver the level of service customers have come to expect.
#4: Network Providers Must Be Nimble to Win Their Share of the Infrastructure Bill (U.S. only)
2022 will be one of the biggest internet service provider “land grabs” we’ve ever seen in the United States as organizations rush to claim their share of the recently passed infrastructure bill. $65 billion of a $1 trillion bill is allocated for broadband network expansion into rural and other underserved areas. Break down that figure further and you’ll find just over $42 billion in grants to states for broadband projects and $1 billion for building so-called "middle mile" infrastructure that connects local providers to larger internet access points.
As government decision makers work to quickly parcel out those monies, their preferred recipients will be organizations that are able to demonstrate that they 1) are able to use the funds in a wise, efficient manner, and 2) are prepared to quickly execute on their plans to expand or upgrade service for existing or current customers.
With little time to spare for planning, internet providers must double down on automation for network planning. Legacy planning systems and processes just won’t cut it when so much is at stake. They are painfully slow and planning can take years whereas automation allows for smart decisions in weeks or months. Moreover, mistakes from traditional planning can be costly both in terms of time and in hardware and software investments. Automation allows providers to examine a variety of network scenarios quickly and accurately at both the macro and micro level, as well as predict associated equipment costs - a level of agility and nimbleness that will be critical as providers compete for their slice of the infrastructure bill pie.
