Thirty nine per cent of UK companies are ready to invest in 5G Standalone (5G SA) today, according to research by Vodafone.Added to that, 14 per cent plan to make the move within 12 months, demonstrating the immediate appetite for next generation digital services.
Furthermore, the study found that 89 per cent of businesses are looking to technology to improve the operational efficiency of their business in an increasingly competitive digital environment.
Ninety three per cent of businesses also highlighted reliable data connections as critical to success.
In response to the growing need for the technology, Vodafone has extended its existing 5G Ultra service to enterprise and small- to medium-sized business customers. This offers organisations access to 5G SA. The 5G SA network is a fully updated and future-proofed network which delivers many new benefits not previously available on 4G or 5G non-standalone.
Nick Gliddon, business director, Vodafone UK, said, “Our customers are telling us they are ready for 5G Standalone. Whether it is to keep employees connected with more reliable services, or to customise their business through next-generation services such as network slicing. 5G Standalone is the doorway to innovation, new revenues, and better connection with employees.
“We launched the UK’s first 5G Standalone network in 2023. But to bring the benefits to everyone, we need consolidation – we cannot avoid a digital divide without it. Our proposed merger with Three UK is good for customers, good for competition and good for country. It will deliver much needed scale, better enabling us to deliver the benefits of 5G Ultra to all customers, regardless of where they live.”
Vodafone’s research found that 86 per cent of customers suggested the rollout of 5G SA is either important or extremely important, with 44 per cent stating lower latency would help business growth, while 83 per cent would slightly or significantly increase 5G investments once advanced capabilities are available.
Forty six per cent believe 5G SA would offer them a competitive advantage within three years by better enabling innovation.5G Ultra can also help companies in the hybrid working environment too. Seventy one per cent of businesses stated that remote working is critically important. However, 32 per cent are still struggling with the connectivity requirements of a hybrid and remote working environment. In fact, 26 per cent stated challenges with team collaboration and communication are having a negative impact on their business, and 43 per cent pointed to poor quality video or voice calls.
5G Ultra can also help an organisation improve training and remote support through the integration of virtual and augmented reality technologies. Staff skills and development (45 per cent) and keeping staff happy and motivated (39 per cent) were two of the most common on-going business challenges.
The research further demonstrated that 38 per cent of businesses believe a network that can be customised to fit their specific needs would help growth, while 24 per cent said a lack of services tailored to their organisation’s needs is negatively impacting them today.