Here is a snippet from an interactive session with Technologist Vimal Daga and IT-Voice where he has shared his expert views on the 5G rollout, and the future:
Prateek: What is the impact of the 5G rollout on Indian IT services companies going ahead? What kind of growth, we can expect for the communications vertical of IT firms?
Vimal Daga: 5G rollout will help IT services which are already having contracts for providing services/maintenance of devices. As with the 5G roll out the number of devices per ISP is going to drastically increase. There will be some sort of 5G involvement for almost every company in the world. The 5G transformation will have a major impact on CSPs, but various industries such as automotive, manufacturing, media, government, along with energy and utilities, will also be able to make their businesses stand out. In all of our endeavors, technology plays a central role, whether it is preparing the workforce for the future, upgrading skills, educational development, or addressing environmental demands, healthcare, or even social empowerment now. The emergence of 5 G is going to impact all these sectors and is going to take their performance and benefits a notch up. 5G is the next technological advancement in cellular communication that will play a pivotal role in transforming the economy in the coming years. The IT sector stands to benefit immediately and directly from 5G. The adoption of this technology will enable industry leaders to take part in the next internet revolution. There are a huge number of monetization opportunities and experiences created in the following areas and applications.
V2X, autonomous vehicles, automotive maintenance, enterprise (B2B, B2B2X business models), product offerings, Immersive entertainment (live streaming, AR/VR solutions)Connected stadium (fan experience), Industrial control systems, remote monitoring, IoT platforms, streaming with AR/VR for remote assistance and guidance start health, smart cities, smart homes Drones-as-a-Service (surveillance, 5G signal QoS assessment)
Prateek: Which are the companies that will benefit the most? Will it be Tech Mahindra or Wipro, Infosys & TCS?
Vimal Daga: Those who Embrace this technology today stand to gain a competitive advantage, and the potential to create productive enterprises of the future. Businesses that lead the network adoption journey to 5G will not only gain revenue and grow, but they will also be game-changers. Making the most of 5 G potential will depend on its capability, promptness, and willingness to adapt, Due to the fact that this is a new technology, there is a lot of uncertainty from pilot to implementation. So this would be a step-by-step process, Companies willing to adapt will benefit the most, tapping the market for IoT devices (like Wipro is already doing with smart bulbs and switches) will slowly gain traction. From a pure IT services standpoint, I don’t see many benefits as the application requirements more or less remain the same only thing changes is the bandwidth and speed.
TECH MAHINDRA will surely see exponential growth. As innovative technologies can be used to reduce carbon emissions and improve business performance. The consumer market is demanding more from companies, and climate change is becoming an issue that is understood by generations of people. It is a tenet of ultra-high reliability and low latency, allowing high-end precision engineering to be performed. Tech Mahindra is well-positioned to profit from this opportunity due to its relationships with 5G device manufacturers. The shift towards electric vehicles and connected and autonomous cars, for instance, provides new opportunities in the automotive sector. A strong growth opportunity exists within the health and medical device sector too. Because of their high range and low latency, 5G devices will be influential in the expansion of Vehicular to Everything (V2X) communications, which is to say passing of information from a car to a car or infrastructure, and back again. The company offers a strong portfolio of 5G carrier acceptance solutions and accelerating global 5G commercialization for devices in a variety of configurations.” With an emphasis on profitability, Wipro is still looking at the application of 5G not just in communications, but also in other industries, such as quickening the adoption of the cloud in other industries. Wipro applies cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics, and emerging technologies to help clients prepare for the digital world.TCS is going to use the opportunity presented by 5G and other adjacent possibilities and will build a world-class networking equipment and solution business to take advantage of these opportunities.
Prateek: As the 5G rollout is likely to boost a host of other spaces like OTT, consumer tech, games, etc, what will be the spend from these industries? Will Indian IT firms benefit from such spends?
Vimal Daga: Yes, they will benefit since high bandwidth utilizing deployments will take place, and getting contracts for deploying those along with servicing contracts will get them good profits. Nvidia for example is already setting up a hub for gaming in Hyderabad. In recent years, the demands for live video streaming and high-quality content have risen significantly, so neoteric 5G technology provides us with incredible opportunities to enhance the OTT viewing experience. As mobile internet bandwidth is consumed by video more than any other service today, the upgraded connectivity will make it easier for streaming video companies to enter the market. By providing ultrafast download speeds and low latency, the 5G network will put an end to the slow connectivity and buffering currently experienced for video and gaming users.
Prateek: India is likely to see a 5G rollout soon. What are your views on the Indian market?
Vimal Daga: India is a huge market as long as priced correctly it will generate good profits for ISP’s like Jio/Airtel/Vodafone, also, ISP’s are already deploying IoT devices like smart electricity meters and other IoT-based services.
Prateek: Any other insight, you want to share?
Vimal Daga: We are still a year away from production 5g deployments, and the range issues of millimeter-wave (speed vs range) still remains a challenge
