Transforming the digital experience with 5G

Transforming digital experiences, products, services, operations, business processes and technologies to enable digital-first and omnichannel customer experiences has become a top priority and top of the transformation agenda for Communications Service Providers (CSPs).

However, 5G is taking the digital experience to the next level and providing CSPs with a plethora of opportunities to offer customers a wide range of services for digital interaction. In fact, 5G revolutionizes the customer experience, allowing digital access to all services that were only dreamed of in the past, and opens up new avenues for digital service providers (DSPs) and CSP partnerships.

This article examines the impact 5G is having on digital experiences, and the potential for further transformation.

High-speed connection + low latency = seamless real-time interaction

High-speed connections combined with 5G's low latency ensure faster downloads and less delay in data processing.

This enables better streaming experiences, smoother real-time interactions, seamless gaming, and immersive collaboration to deliver personalized experiences. With increased bandwidth, content creators can deliver high-quality, immersive content for different types of video streams, such as 8K, augmented reality applications, virtual reality games, etc., thus transforming the digital experience.

5G enhanced mobile broadband allows more users to connect simultaneously without compromising service speed or quality, for example in sports or concert stadiums or venues, shopping malls or cinemas.

It also means that high-quality video streaming, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) – all features enhanced by connectivity, especially with today’s smartphones – are possible thanks to the extremely fast speeds and increased capacity.

This enables digital experiences that have been impossible until now with other generations of connectivity. It also expands the realm of possibility into new areas, such as virtual stores that use augmented reality to see what a product will look like in real time.

5G also enables edge computing, enabling faster data processing and allowing latency-sensitive tasks to be performed closer to the user, completely transforming the digital experience.

Data stored in the cloud can be combined with data at the edge to provide real-time information. This can enhance the experience, such as providing details on where to shop, while using AI and real-time data to check dietary restrictions based on individual preferences.

IoT enables connected homes, cities, vehicles and industrial automation

Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC) provides connectivity for large numbers of devices that transmit small amounts of traffic intermittently, allowing for approximately 1 million connected smart devices and sensors per square kilometer without overloading the network.

The low latency and high capacity provided by 5G through this core function are critical to the realization of the Internet of Things (IoT) by allowing large numbers of devices to communicate with each other in real time, creating opportunities for smart homes, smart cities, industrial automation and connected vehicles through faster data transmission.

This will provide better experiences for consumers and businesses as the transformation of digital experiences in homes and industries accelerates.

From a customer support perspective, it can improve home troubleshooting and independently detect issues or alert users to maintenance before they occur. Sensors can guide customers through troubleshooting, raising the bar for the overall customer experience.

Enhance reliability for mission-critical applications

Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) provides enhanced reliability and availability, making it suitable for mission-critical applications in industries such as fleet management, healthcare or public safety.

5G is transforming the digital experience through its potential to enable digital traffic management, autonomous vehicles, telemedicine and teleradiology, remote surgery, and more.

Since most use cases affect humans, critical communications must not be compromised. Therefore, using 5G can improve safety and efficiency.

How 5G will transform the digital experience through network slicing

5G allows network slicing, allowing CSPs to divide the network into multiple virtual networks with different properties. This makes it possible to allocate dedicated network slices for specific services while ensuring that the quality of service for different applications is guaranteed.

For example, a network slice can be dedicated to a gaming or sports experience to guarantee high capacity and speed when playing a game or watching a match. This means customers can control how their subscription products and bundles are structured, allowing unique configurations for differentiated digital experiences and creating the option to pay more for the experiences they want.

Bringing together CSPs and digital partners

With the advent of 5G, pairing CSPs and digital partners has taken another big step forward. CSPs can now establish multiple digital service partnerships, especially in the fields of gaming, education, entertainment, travel, healthcare or sports, to provide customers with an engaging and interactive experience through a one-stop service.

There is a huge opportunity for users to subscribe to these different types of digital experiences from one marketplace and have microapps experience all the services of the same marketplace.

A comprehensive range of digital service experiences is delivered through collaboration with OTT providers, content creators and other industry players to provide bundled digital services with connectivity.

Transforming digital experiences and enabling new use cases and business models through 5G

5G transforms the digital experience by delivering faster speeds, lower latency, massive connectivity, and enhanced reliability. It also opens up new possibilities for IoT applications, immersive experiences, real-time communications, and personalized services across industries.

Improvements in reliability, performance, and efficiency will be a huge challenge for businesses that must meet higher customer expectations. As 5G continues to roll out around the world, we can expect significant advances in digital experiences and innovative use cases leveraging the power of this technology.

Overall, 5G brings more than just technological advancement; it enables industries to develop new use cases and business models as CSPs, DSPs, and customers further adopt it.