At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, Ericsson elaborated on the themes steering their presence this year. With a dual focus on exposing and building, Ericsson aims to empower its customers in monetising the potential of 5G, reflecting on its significant impact on industries globally. This interview with Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson, captures insights into the evolution of 5G, key trends steering the telecommunications sector, and the indispensable role of collaboration between telecom companies and other industries for mutual growth and innovation.
What is the theme of Ericsson’s participation at MWC 2024?
There are two angles to our participation at MWC this year: Exposing and building. We want to ensure we can take the next step for our customers and monetise 5G. 5G has been a great addition, addressing the need for additional capacity. This was particularly evident in regions like the Middle East, where we had early adopters.
Ericsson is evolving towards facilitating mobile broadband in a way that is more accessible. We are working on what we call the ‘global network platform’. With this, any developer worldwide can get one level of access to all the world’s mobile networks. We are changing the paradigm, allowing customers to expose functionalities globally through APIs, enabling developers to create next-gen services for enterprises. Additionally, we are also transforming into programmable networks based on cloud and open interfaces, serving global APIs more efficiently.
How do you see the evolution of 5G impacting different industries?
5G is in an evolution with technology progressing in cycles. Over the past six to seven years, we’ve seen initial use cases focusing on mobile broadband, offering better throughput and capacity. The second step involves fixed wireless access, replacing fibre connections with wireless alternatives. The third step is the ability to expose 5G functionalities like slicing and programmable networks, catering to high-demand use cases. For instance, our partnership with du telecom explores opportunities like tertiary broadcasting slices, enhancing the synchronisation of broadcasts and creating new economic opportunities beyond traditional mobile services.
What are some of the key trends shaping the future of telecommunications, and where does Ericsson stand in this sector?
Telecom and mobility serve as foundational elements for society. Connecting eight billion people to our networks is a testament to the inclusive and democratic nature of our technology. Our focus is on exposing 5G functionalities and programmable networks, underpinned by technologies like cloud and openness. Ericsson aims to lead in enterprise exposure functionalities and programmable networks, leveraging these technologies to fuel innovation.
How crucial is collaboration between telecom companies and other industries for mutual growth and innovation?
Telecom has traditionally been somewhat verticalised, and Ericsson recognises the need for increased collaboration. Open standards and interfaces, along with external developer involvement, are key. In an open, cloud-native environment, collaboration becomes even more fundamental. Partnering with external companies in this space is essential for fostering innovation on a broader scale.
