5G Monetization Opportunities in the Philippines at Ericsson’s ‘Imagine Live’ event.
5G technology is a goldmine of opportunities, but telecom operators like PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) must first imagine, innovate, and hit the sweet spot where consumer preferences and market demands drive monetization. This was the central theme of a session moderated by Kristine A. Go, Senior Vice President for Wireless Consumer at Smart, entitled “5G Monetization Opportunities in the Philippines” as part of Ericsson’s ‘Imagine Live 2024’.
The interactive session brought together industry experts from PLDT, Smart and Ericsson to discuss the transformative potential of 5G technology and the strategies needed to maximize its revenue potential.
In her opening remarks, Go emphasized the importance of 5G monetization for both consumers and businesses. “5G, with its enhanced speed, low latency, and massive connectivity, offers a vast array of opportunities for innovative services and applications. However, to truly capitalize on these opportunities, telecom operators like ourselves must develop effective monetization strategies that align with consumer preferences and market demands.”
Ericsson Head of Marketing for Market Area of South East Asia, Oceania and India (MOAI) Rob Saviane and MOAI Head of Strategy Farjola Peco, discussed the global landscape of 5G monetization, highlighting key trends and challenges. They noted that Filipino 5G users exhibit a higher demand for data-intensive services compared to global counterparts, spending an average of 25 minutes more per day on activities like streaming and gaming.
Smart SVP for Wireless Consumer Kristine Go delivers her talk on
Building upon this insight, Go elaborated on the specific opportunities for 5G monetization in the Philippines. She highlighted the increasing demand for high-speed internet, especially for remote work, online education, and entertainment. Additionally, she emphasized the potential for innovative 5G applications in industries like healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. “With the increasing demand for high-speed internet, 5G offers a transformative opportunity for the Philippines. From enabling remote work and online education to powering innovative applications in sectors like healthcare and agriculture, 5G has the potential to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for Filipinos,” added Go.
Go ended the session with a reminder that as the Philippines continues to expand its 5G infrastructure, it is crucial for Telcos to adopt innovative strategies and collaborate with industry partners to maximize the economic and social benefits of this transformative technology.
The PLDT Group’s continued investments in enhancing its integrated network and in innovating its products and services are aligned with the group’s commitment to democratize access to the latest technologies like 5G, enable 5G for all, and deliver leveled-up customer experience across the country.
These also contribute to the PLDT Group’s endeavors to narrow the digital divide, provide connectivity to all, and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) particularly SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. These also reinforce the Group’s support for the Government’s overall digitalization thrust.
