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5G key enabler for PH digital transformation
Telco firm Ericsson said a 10% increase in mobile broadband adoption can increase economic growth by up to 0.8%.
The Philippines was urged to invest in innovating its 5G network infrastructures to help accelerate the country’s digitalisation and ensure sustainable economic growth.
Telco service company Ericsson highlighted the role of 5G infrastructure as an innovation platform for driving digital transformation among businesses, as well as the community.
“Ericsson research shows that on average, a 10% increase in mobile broadband adoption can increase economic growth (GDP) by up to 0.8%,” said Andres Vicente, Head of Ericsson Southeast Asia, Oceania and India.
Vicente said the firm is looking forward to partnering with the Philippine government on its digitalisation initiatives and towards building a strong digital infrastructure for the country through 5G.
5G allows technologies such as AI, 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. 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.
“The time to make investments in the 5G networks in Philippines is now. 5G will serve as the critical infrastructure that will accelerate the digitalisation of enterprises, transform consumer experiences and provide the country with a competitive edge when it comes to attracting foreign investments in the country,” said Vicente.
In its previous report, Ericsson revealed that global 5G subscriptions have reached 1.9b at the end of Q2 2024. Current users in the Philippines only account for around 9% of the total mobile subscriptions.
However, Daniel Ode, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines and Brunei, said the roll-out of more affordable 5G smartphones, a maturing 5G ecosystem, and the accelerated 5G deployments will boost 5G adoption in the Philippines.
“Investments in 5G deployments will not only enhance 5G coverage but will also lead to better quality of service for consumers. With more investments being made on 5G, over 40% of the total mobile subscriptions in Philippines are expected to be on 5G by 2030,” Ode said.
