“A 10% increase in mobile broadband adoption can increase economic growth by up to 0.8%.“
An increase in the adoption of mobile broadband can increase a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), Andres Vicente, head of Ericsson Southeast Asia, Oceania and India said.
Speaking at the Ericsson Imagine Live 2024 roadshow in Manila, Vicente said: “5G is an innovation platform for driving digital transformation of businesses and society. Ericsson research shows that on average, a 10% increase in mobile broadband adoption can increase economic growth (GDP) by up to 0.8%.”
“At Ericsson, we look forward to partnering with the Philippine government on its digitalization initiatives and towards building a strong digital infrastructure for the country through 5G,” the executive added.
5G in the Philippines
Ericsson also said with more investments being made on 5G, over 40% of the total mobile subscriptions in the Philippines are expected to be on 5G by 2030.
According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, 5G is seeing a robust uptake worldwide, with 5G subscriptions having reached 1.9 billion globally at the end of Q2,2024.
5G mobile subscriptions are set to reach nearly 5.6 billion in 2029 making up 60 percent of all mobile subscriptions at that time.
In the Philippines, 5G subscriptions currently stand at around 9% of the total mobile subscriptions.
5G takes centerstage
The Ericsson Imagine Live 2024 roadshow in the Philippines showcased Ericsson’s advanced technology solutions and 5G use cases that the company said are relevant for the Philippines as it transitions to a digital economy.
According to Ericcson, 5G allows technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud to be leveraged at scale on top of the secure, reliable, and always available 5G networks, thereby opening new possibilities for consumers and enterprises.
Digital transformation is providing extensive opportunities for creating new value, gaining competitive advantage, and enabling cost savings for enterprises, Ericsson said.
5G for consumers
For consumers, 5G would lead to more immersive experiences, faster download speeds, smoother video streaming, and more responsive gaming. Better connectivity also translates to better healthcare through telemedicine, improved education through remote learning and better quality of life.
“More affordable 5G smartphones, a maturing 5G ecosystem, coupled with accelerated 5G deployments will serve to boost 5G adoption in Philippines. Investments in 5G deployments will not only enhance 5G coverage but will also lead to better quality of service for consumers.” Daniel Ode, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines and Brunei, said.
Fixed wireless potential
Looking beyond the enhanced mobile broadband, there is a strong potential for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in the Philippines given its challenging geography, limited infrastructure to deploy fixed broadband and more than 40% rural population, Ericsson said.
According to an Ericsson Consumer Lab Study, 1 in 3 households in the Philippines rely on mobile connectivity (via FWA, smartphone, mobile hotspot or similar) at home, indicating a strong appetite for a 5G FWA offering.
Based on the right user experience being provided for people, there will be a massive adoption and opportunity for further uptake of FWA in the Philippines.
“The time to make investments in the 5G networks in the Philippines is now. 5G will serve as the critical infrastructure that will accelerate the digitalization of enterprises, transform consumer experiences and provide the country with a competitive edge when it comes to attracting foreign investments in the country,” Vicente said.
Ericsson said it is well poised to support communication service providers in the Philippines to seamlessly transition to 5G given its technology leadership and global deployment experience.
The company said around 320 5G networks are in commercial service globally and Ericsson is leading the market, powering 166 live 5G networks to date across five continents.
READ MORE TECH NEWS.
