5G Technology

To help our client develop a near-term strategy while positioning itself for the future, we took a multiphase approach. First, we reached a common understanding of the timing, technical requirements, and costs of 5G capabilities. We then analyzed the monetization potential of different offerings and the prerequisites for getting them to market. This let us develop business-case scenarios, including investment thresholds, timing estimates, and rollout options. And it let our client identify—and pursue—the optimal launch plan, implementing the first 5G commercial rollout in its country.

For a telco active in several developing countries, the question—and the challenge—was about balance. Where should the company prioritize a fiber rollout? Where should it focus on fixed wireless access (FWA)? To strike the right balance, we assessed mobile traffic growth, network upgrade costs, and commercial potential on a microgeographic level. We developed a nuanced rollout strategy, one that prioritized fiber and FWA in just the right places. And we were even more nuanced in our approach—for example, by identifying where the telco should stress FWA as a bridge until it completed a fiber rollout.

Teaming experts from our telco and technology advantage practices as well as BCG Platinion, we helped the product division of a leading APAC telco develop and pilot new service offerings to accelerate the variety and usage of 5G devices. Through these pilots, the client gained insights on how best to execute a full-scale launch. Our holistic approach enabled us to hone all aspects of service strategy and implementation, from concepts and value proposition to organization and infrastructure design to marketing and operations.

Our client—a leading US telco—saw 5G as a launching pad for new IoT services that could enable it to play, and prosper, outside its core business. But where, exactly, should the client focus? Our 5G consultants analyzed the full spectrum of IoT use cases, both in the US and globally, and interviewed customers to understand pain points and opportunities. We developed detailed playbooks for four potential plays—two vertical and two horizontal—and created a roadmap for moving forward.

Looking to triple its revenues within five years, our client wanted to assess whether 5G could spur new services—and new income streams. We examined the company’s strengths, such as its ownership of some advantageous spectrum assets, and how they could be used to create differentiated offerings to meet emerging needs. This let us prioritize the most promising opportunities: the industry verticals and use cases where our client could stand out and stand ahead. Then we identified the partnerships, operating model changes, and capability building to make it all work.

After our client—a fixed and virtual mobile network operator in Europe—acquired 5G spectrum, it sought to launch a state-of-the-art 5G greenfield network. Doing so required working with an array of vendors across active, passive, and transmission domains. We created and led the project management office for passive infrastructure. In this role, we negotiated with multiple tower companies, facilitated shareholder buy-in and board approvals, defined technical procedures and governance, and ensured competitive pricing and flexible commercial terms.