Therefore, not only telco networks are witnessing a transformation in their technology fabric, but the BSS systems are also evolving concurrently, from traditional SIM card sales to serving digital businesses from the cloud.

This requires a major shift in mindset in organizational processes, which is much beyond mere technology adoption. 

8. Open RAN – poster boy of 5G NR

Open RAN has emerged as a new “poster boy” of 5G radio networks. The possibilities of mixing and matching radio components (RU, DU and CU) are very attractive to carriers, as it helps attain a leverage against vendor lock-in.

However, an open approach to RAN can be a double-edged sword if not executed well. It is not just a question of technology, but the long-term evolution of an O-RAN compliant multivendor arrangement, where the roadmaps of different vendors need to be in alignment.

O-RAN continues to grow in the industry, and it may find greater synergies with private and enterprise 5G networks.

9. API Exposure - network as a service

The 3GPP standards define a unique capability, which enables API exposure from the 5G network. This is termed as CAPIF (Common API Framework).

The CAPIF is an enabler to expose functionality not only for IoT and MMTC use cases, but it also has its application in network slicing and slice-based policy control.

How the industry brings together these solutions for OPEX efficiency is yet to be seen, as carriers are still searching for concrete use cases.

The network-as-a-service paradigm has been mooted for a decade, but with these standardization directions, it seems that finally there will be some light at the end of the tunnel.

10. Intersection of 5G with AI/ML and blockchain

Earlier network technologies existed as disparate islands, with little interaction with sister disciplines of the software world. However, with 5G networks, an interplay with AI/ML and blockchain is imperative. While AI and ML are making inroads into the radio network through RIC designs and even the NR physical layer, there are applications of ML in network operations (MLOps).

Blockchain, on the other hand, has a pivotal role to play in the ecosystem creation for 5G services, so that innovative business models can be operationalized. While these are nascent developments, it remains to be seen how these intersections play out, with 5G standalone deployments accelerating in 2022.

Predictions for 2022

This brings us to nine key predictions for 2022.

5G software providers will make inroads in the enterprise and private 5G market by directly collaborating with industry players.

Hyperscalers will enable faster rollout of enterprise 5G services. Adoption for mainstream carrier networks will remain limited.

Carriers will move to standalone 5G networks to protect their 4G customer base and compete for new business opportunities in Industry 4.0. This trend is expected to accelerate in 2022-23.

IoT/MMTC will come of age with 5G standalone networks. The lukewarm adoption of NB-IoT/WB-IoT will get a new lease of life as private and enterprise 5G deployments increase.

New revenue-share models and ecosystem revenues will garner interest in conjunction with technologies such as blockchain.

Network slicing revenues will add cushion to the bottom line of carriers, and this segment is expected to grow through 2022-23.

O-RAN will either flourish or perish by 2023. Important steps to product-manage O-RAN combinations need to be taken for large-scale deployment.

IT service integrators will gain, as more 5G use cases are trialed and commercialized. We can expect this industry to ride the 5G wave and move to the next orbit of growth.

Cloud CRM and subscription management will see hyper-growth as more 5G use cases come to life.