Average revenue per user of 5G users sees a notable increase - Huawei’s Ryan Ding

There is a notable increase in the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) of 5G users through multi-metric service packages and upgraded services like 5G messaging and enriched calling.

Addressing the 2020 Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF), Huawei’s Executive Director and President of the Carrier Business Group Ryan Ding highlighted that 5G is developing much faster than previous generations. “Currently, there are more than 100 commercial 5G networks worldwide, and budget 5G mobile phones have dropped to CNY1,000. This is driving up the number of 5G users around the world.” 

He also said, the coming decade will be a golden age for 5G’s progress around the world, and the whole industry must have faith in 5G, build the best 5G networks, and make most of them for shared value. 

Ding, further insisted that it is necessary to provide coverage across all scenarios such as for dense urban areas, suburbs, and indoors so that users always have access to 5G services. 

“In addition to the consumer market, the industrial market will become a new revenue stream for carriers,” he said. 5G is being applied in more and more sectors over the year since it was first deployed. Many industry applications have become increasingly commoditised and can be replicated on a larger scale. Carriers are also exploring how to use 5G to enable vertical industries.

He further said unlike consumers who care most about data speeds, industry customers have a variety of needs and it is crucial that carriers maximise network value by nurturing new capabilities. Thus according to Ding, to meet these diverse needs, the telecom sector needs to provide fundamental network capabilities, highly reliable network services, and flexible networking solutions necessary for industrial 5G applications. 

The telecom sector will also need to make improvements from end to end, ranging from network planning, construction, maintenance, and optimisation to operations. This will help reduce the costs of deploying industry applications. 

Ding emphasised, developing industrial 5G applications is an industry-wide effort, rather than just carriers’ responsibility. Accelerating this development is only possible when telecommunications integrates with other industries. 

In the recently-frozen Release 16, 3GPP added an improved standard for broadcasting services and 5G functions like location and ultra-low air interface latency. Upcoming releases, including Release 17, will address additional industry needs.

(AC)