Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6 - Deloitte's Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption - India Edition April 2021
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Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6 Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption - India Edition April 2021
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02
Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Contents
Introduction04
Networking executives have rapidly shifted
their focus to advanced wireless 06
Advanced wireless is foundational to
innovation and transformation 19
How adoption of advanced wireless is unfolding 29
Considerations for networking decision-makers 39
Endnotes41
Connect with us 44
03
Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Introduction
In our hyperconnected era, the number in Q4 2020 to 437 networking executives
of networked devices may reach 29.3 from nine additional countries,
billion by 2023—more than three representing organizations with plans
devices for every human being on to adopt 5G and/or Wi-Fi 6 (see sidebar,
the planet.1 Next-generation wireless “Methodology”).
technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are
poised to become a crucial part of the We uncovered key insights about how
networks that link machines and people. and why organizations around the world
By offering significant performance plan to adopt advanced wireless:
improvements—such as faster speeds,
increased data capacity, lower latency, The pandemic has accelerated the
greater device density, and precise shift in focus to advanced wireless. The
location sensing—these new wireless COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a shift
technologies are already enabling novel in priorities: Remarkably, half the global
solutions, including autonomous vehicles, networking executives we surveyed
precision automation and robotics, report that the crisis has spurred
telemedicine and telesurgery, immersive their organization to accelerate
retail and entertainment experiences, investment in wireless networking.
and augmented-reality workplace They’re focusing on newer technologies
collaborations. such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6, which they
view as a way to bolster their ability to
Innovative solutions such as these address current and future disruptions,
are why leaders across industries as well as an opportunity to create new
see advanced wireless networks as solutions. Our earlier survey indicated
increasingly essential to their strategies. that executives planned to take
And rising urgency is accelerating a shift up to three years to shift their attention
in focus to 5G and Wi-Fi 6, far faster than to 5G and Wi-Fi 6 from older wireless
what executives forecast less than a technologies, but priorities have changed
year ago. much faster than anticipated.
In early 2020, Deloitte surveyed US-based Advanced wireless is foundational to
networking executives to understand innovation and transformation. As
how US enterprises are approaching the latest in a decades-long evolution
advanced wireless technologies and of wireless technologies, 5G and
how they expect to benefit from Wi-Fi 6 promise performance and
the new capabilities.2 Shortly after operational improvements over previous
that survey wrapped, the COVID-19 generations. More significantly, they
pandemic plunged the world into a time enable innovative usage scenarios that
of extraordinary disruption, spurring aren’t merely incremental advances.4
a global recession with substantial Indeed, networking executives expect
workforce and IT implications.3 To next-gen wireless to be integral to their
obtain a global perspective on advanced business success and transformational
wireless adoption and assess attitudes for both their enterprises and industries,
during the crisis, we extended our survey representing an opportunity to change
04
Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
how they operate, innovate, and telecom and technology vendors (for
sell. Leaders view advanced wireless example, application providers, cloud
technologies as foundational to their companies, wireless carriers, network
efforts to implement innovative equipment providers, component
technologies at the heart of their digital vendors, and consulting firms/
transformation efforts, including big integrators) and often with multiple
data analytics, artificial intelligence vendors of each type. Two-thirds of
(AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, and adopters prefer to purchase best-of-
edge computing. More than ever, these breed components, and many seek
technologies are converging in enterprise help with integration. With seven in
innovation initiatives, with advanced 10 adopters indicating they’re open
wireless at the core. to exploring new relationships, it will
become increasingly important for
The ecosystem is complex and vendors to carve out and solidify their
evolving. Adopters engage with myriad position.
Methodology
To understand how enterprises around the world are adopting advanced wireless technologies, including
motivations, challenges, and preferences, Deloitte in Q4 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) surveyed
437 IT and line-of-business (LoB) executives in nine countries, who are responsible for connectivity at
organizations in the process of adopting 5G and/or Wi-Fi 6 or planning to adopt either technology within
the next three years. The countries represented: Australia (51 respondents), Brazil (51 respondents), China
(50 respondents), Germany (50 respondents), India (51 respondents), Japan (51 respondents), Netherlands
(50 respondents), Portugal (29 respondents), and United Kingdom (54 respondents). Eight in 10 executives
decide networking investments; 7 in 10 manage implementations.
Seventy-one percent of respondents are IT executives; the rest are LoB executives. Fifty-nine
percent are C-level executives, including CIOs and CTOs (48%) and CEOs, presidents, and owners (10%);
22% are senior VPs/VPs/business unit heads; and the remaining 19% are senior directors/directors.
In terms of company size, 15% have an annual revenue of US$50 million to US$500 million; 20% have
revenues of US$500 million to US$1 billion; 34% have revenues of US$1 billion to US$5 billion; and 31%
have revenues of US$5 billion or more. Six industries are represented in the survey: consumer, retail, and
automotive (25%); technology, media and telecom (19%); energy, resources and industrials (19%); financial
services (22%); life sciences and health care (8%); and education (6%).
Note: Our prior survey of 415 US networking executives5 was conducted in Q1 2020, before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
were felt in the United States. Both surveys have similar respondent profiles.
05
Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Networking executives
have rapidly shifted their
focus to advanced wireless
Deloitte’s early 2020 study found that critical wireless technologies for their
US-based networking executives still business initiatives (figure 1). And in
viewed 4G/Long Term Evolution (LTE) and the next three years, as physical 5G
current (or previous) versions of Wi-Fi as infrastructure is built out and 5G devices
the most critical wireless technologies become more available, leaders expect
for their businesses. Most viewed 5G and the new technologies to become even
Wi-Fi 6 as up-and-coming over the next more significant.7 It’s worth noting that
few years.6 executives now see 5G and Wi-Fi 6 as
higher priorities than 4G LTE and Wi-Fi
Attitudes shifted quickly: Nine months 5 (and older versions) in nearly all the
later, global networking decision-makers countries we studied.8
regard 5G and Wi-Fi 6 as the most
06
Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 1 : Networking executives already regard 5G and Wi-Fi 6 as the most critical wireless
technologies for their business initiatives—and their importance will continue to grow
Percent ranking each a top-three critical wireless networking technology for their organization’s
business initiatives
76%
65%
69%
58% 43%
42%
31%
39%
24%
15%
5G Wi-Fi 6 NB–IoT Wi-Fi 5 or older 4G LTE
Today In three years
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
About two in five executives ranked Others have noted the extent to
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) in their which the pandemic has catalyzed
top-three most important wireless change in the technology, media,
technologies, although enthusiasm varies and telecommunications industry,
considerably by country—in China and compressing what was expected to be
India, three in five networking executives years of gradual change into several
ranked it within their top three, reflecting intense months.11 Our study findings
higher uptake in those countries.9 As corroborate this: Half the networking
part of the upcoming 3GPP Release-17 executives we surveyed expect to boost
5G specification, NB-IoT can play a role in their wireless networking investment
organizations’ 5G IoT evolution strategy.10 due to the pandemic (15% report they’ll
invest significantly more), while less than
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating a quarter report pullbacks (figure 2).
wireless investment
Why has leaders’ focus shifted toward
advanced networking technologies Figure 2 : Half the networking executives
much faster than our 2020 study expect to boost their investment due
suggested? For several reasons that to the pandemic
the world saw play out in real time over Compared to our planned wireless networking
investments before the pandemic, the COVID-19
the nine months that separated our
crisis is causing our organization to invest . . .
two surveys. The COVID-19 pandemic
caused surging demand for better
connectivity to support remote working, 23%
online learning, and automation. The
crisis vividly underscored organizations’ 7% 16% 26% 35% 15%
need for ubiquitous, secure, high-quality
connectivity to reduce onsite personnel, 50%
maintain business operations, and
support virtual employee interaction and
Significantly less Somewhat less No change
customer engagement. And it highlighted
the value of virtualization and automation Somewhat more Significantly more
capabilities that enable more flexible,
remote management of enterprise Note: N=437 global networking executives.
operations. Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global
Edition, 2021. 07
Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
The primary stated reason for escalating The pandemic may well be accelerating
wireless investment is resilience— demand for novel products and services
augmenting an organization’s ability to that rely on a more robust and powerful
address current and future business network infrastructure. Indeed, the
disruptions (figure 3). After all, number-two reason cited for increasing
the pandemic will surely not be the wireless investment is to create or
last crisis companies face in the next enhance solutions that address new use
several years. Consider the example of cases. As a case in point, enterprises
a major telecommunications company in China have utilized 5G in a variety of
that deployed a private 5G network on crisis-related solutions aimed at limiting
a factory production floor to address personal interactions, including hospital
pandemic-related challenges: Leaders robots that performed disinfection
were able to rapidly deploy safety use and medicine deliveries and driverless
cases, such as scanning employees for vehicles that delivered food and medical
face masks and monitoring smart badges supplies to quarantined individuals.14
to ensure that workers weren’t in close Companies have also leveraged the
proximity for too long.12 And instead high bandwidth and low latency of 5G
of flying in specialists to repair robots, networks for telehealth, including remote
managers outfitted local employees with medical consultation and diagnosis of
“mixed reality” headsets so that remote COVID-19 and remote, robot-controlled
technicians could guide them. A number ultrasounds.
of companies have been rolling out
new wireless applications and services The number-three motivator for
designed to keep personnel safe in increased spending relates to a desire for
the workplace, including solutions that better network security and data privacy.
use Wi-Fi to sense when devices enter As the pandemic pushed more workers
building areas and real-time analytics to and their devices offsite, leaders may
flag occupancy issues.13 have realized they needed to invest more
in protecting devices and data.
Figure 3: Networking executives who are increasing wireless spending due to the
pandemic cite wireless’s ability to help them address disruption, create solutions to
address new use cases, and enhance network security
Percent ranking each a top-three reason the pandemic is causing them to invest more
Increase ability to address current
59%
and future business disruptions
Create or enhance solutions to
48%
address new use cases/challenges
Enhance network security/privacy 46%
Support increased bandwidth
41%
requirements for remote workers
Engage with customers seamlessly,
38%
through digital platforms
Enable digital selling with virtual
processes and tools 33%
Unlock new business models to
26%
thrive in the “new normal”
Note: N=220 global networking executives who indicated their organization is increasing wireless investment due
to the pandemic.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
08Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Strategic importance and adoption are (such as 5G smartphones), hardware/
on the rise equipment, software, installation, and
Networking executives recognize the operations services (but not including
importance of advanced wireless for costs for spectrum), our respondent
their business success today and believe organizations estimate their three-year
it will be essential to thriving in the spending at US$149.7 million on average.
postpandemic era. Four in five currently In our earlier study, US networking
see advanced wireless technologies executives reported they would spend
as very or critically important for their an average of US$115.7 million on their
business—and the same number expect wireless investments over a three-year
to hold that view in three years. Adoption time frame. The higher spending estimate
is set to take on more urgency: One- outside the US likely reflects the passage
fifth of networking executives view the of nine months between surveys, as well
technologies as critically important for as the catalyzing effects of the pandemic.
their enterprise today; one-third say they
will be critically important in three years. The surveyed organizations are going all-
in when it comes to adopting advanced
Backing up their strategic view, these wireless technologies. By design, our
executives are planning significant survey included respondents from
wireless networking investment over organizations that are in the process of
the next three years. Considering all the adopting 5G and/or Wi-Fi 6 or plan to
wireless technologies (such as 4G, 5G, adopt either technology within the next
various types of Wi-Fi) they expect to use three years. In practice, we found that
over this period and the cost of devices adoption is well past the planning stage:
Figure 4 : 67% of respondents’ organizations are either running pilots or deploying Wi-Fi 6
solutions; 58% are doing the same with 5G
Level of adoption of each technology
Wi-Fi 6
18% 22% 27% 23% 8%
5G
15% 16% 27% 29% 13%
Deploying enterprisewide Deploying in many departments
Started pilots/experiments in several departments Preparing to use
Planning to use in two to three years
Note: N=437 global networking executives. Numbers may not total 100%, due to a small number who reported
“no plans to use.”
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
09Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
two-thirds of respondents’ organizations digital whiteboards, and immersive
are either running pilots or deploying collaboration experiences enriched by
Wi-Fi 6 solutions, while 58% are doing the virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR)
same with 5G (figure 4). Roughly another technologies.16
quarter are in the process of actively
“preparing to use” each technology—for The third-most-cited use case for
example, acquiring devices/infrastructure employee connectivity relates
or identifying potential providers and to IT administration and remote
partners. troubleshooting. For example, 5G
is poised to play a role in remote
Enterprises pursue a variety of usage management of workers’ mobile devices,
scenarios enabling IT professionals to rapidly push
To leverage the capabilities of advanced data-intensive updates to a large number
wireless, adopters tend to target a blend of devices.17 Companies are already
of indoor and outdoor usage scenarios, using 5G technology to connect remote
and a blend of fixed and mobile networks 3D designers and video editors to their
(figure 5). Organizations use advanced high-end workstations back at the office,
wireless networks to connect employees, providing 4K-quality streaming and
machines, and customers. When it comes allowing them to perform CPU-intensive
to employee connectivity—both inside tasks from afar.18 A UK water company
and outside the office—the top two has been using a private 5G network to
use cases involve enhancing workplace enable a “remote expertise” use case: As
communication and collaboration (figure newly hired technicians encounter issues
6). For example, organizations can use with equipment in the field, AR headsets
Wi-Fi 6 to increase the speed of voice and relay the situation to experienced
video, untethering workers from desktop colleagues who guide the troubleshooting
phones and wired connections.15 And with remotely.19
so many professionals working remotely
during the pandemic, 5G may enable Advanced networking also enables
new ways to improve collaboration and many new applications for machine
productivity, such as connectivity—inside facilities, on
high-resolution, multiperson campuses, and in broader areas such
videoconferencing, interactive as shipping ports and international
Figure 5: Advanced wireless adopters tend to say they’re focusing on usage scenarios involving both
indoor/outdoor networks and fixed/mobile devices
Focus of company’s advanced wireless networking scenarios
More focused on indoor networks More focused on fixed networks
(e.g., inside offices, manufacturing 30% 27% (devices stay onsite and do not
facilities, lecture halls, labs) move around)
Even mix (e.g., covering a university
Even mix of fixed
campus, large manufacturing site, 45% 47%
and mobile
oil refinery)
More focused on outdoor networks
More focused on mobile
(e.g., covering airport, shipping port,
24% 25% networks (devices move around
or industrial park, and/or wide
and go offsite)
geographic areas beyond)
Note: N=437 global networking executives. Numbers may not total 100%, due to a small number who reported
“Don't know.”
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
10Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
airports. For example, video surveillance problems before they occur.20 Companies
in factories can allow human operators are also using wireless technologies
(or AI systems) to remotely supervise to connect machines directly to other
equipment in real time, and 5G can machines—for example, in vehicle-to-
deliver the ultrareliable, low-latency vehicle safety systems.21
communication needed to drive
maintenance via robots. Augmenting a Wireless technologies are also powering
smart-factory floor with wirelessly linked enhanced customer experiences.
IoT sensors enables massive streams of Municipalities are already employing a
data about the performance and health combination of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G to drive
of equipment, and analytics can predict smart-city solutions that improve public
Figure 6: Enterprises are targeting a wide range of usage scenarios with
advanced networking
Employee Machine Customer
networking networking networking
Workplace Advanced customer
Remote
communication experiences
monitoring/contro
Faster and seamless Cloud-based mobile
l Video surveillance,
#1 upload/download of files
from cloud,
connected assembly
lines for production
apps, autonomous
stores, immersive
remote document sharing, AR/VR/3D features,
processes,
messaging, accessing entertainment,
telemedicine
internet video-based checkups
Security and fraud
Advanced Machine-to-machine
prevention
#2
collaboration tools communications
Biometric checks,
Mobile video conferences, Vehicle communications
geolocation transactions,
AR/VR/3D experiences, and safety systems,
smart contracts /
remote workplaces assembly/production line
blockchain
Advanced analytics
Insights on shopping
IT administration Advanced analytics patterns or on-floor
#3 Remote troubleshooting,
managing workstations/
servers/ mobile devices
Insights on
sensor-generated data,
movement, pricing,
forecasting,
recommendations,
edge computing
geofencing-based
notifications
Asset tracking Enhanced
Network Inventory management, customer support
#4
management sensors in containers/ Remote diagnostics,
Software-defined WAN, goods/machines, video chats, 3D
network slicing geofencing, blockchain/ consultations
smart contracts
Automation Digital payments
Advanced analytics
#5
Autonomous vehicles, Mobile wallets, in‐car
Device usage,
remote-controlled robots payments, connected
cloud usage
or drones, delivery robots commerce
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
11Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
services, including real-time traffic bodies and wireless alliances continue
monitoring/optimization and geofencing to propose solutions for the remaining
applications that can deliver personalized technical challenges around seamless
alerts to anyone within a predetermined interoperability.26
geographic area.22 In health care, next-
generation wireless initiatives enable Networking executives report their
real-time remote patient monitoring, enterprises are adopting both
high-definition video consultations, technologies for their wireless initiatives,
and even remote medical procedures indicating they prefer Wi-Fi 6 for indoor,
using robots—the need for which grew on-campus, and fixed network situations
more urgent during the pandemic.23 and 5G for outdoor, off-campus, and
Sports organizations are using 5G mobile network environments. Adopting
and Wi-Fi 6 to deliver more engaging, the technologies in parallel makes sense.
immersive stadium experiences. And Fully 45% are already deploying both Wi-
retail companies are combining advanced Fi 6 and 5G in their business or piloting/
wireless with IoT sensors and analytics experimenting with them, with another
to support smart inventory systems, 35% actively preparing to use both—for
optimize product pricing, and personalize example, acquiring devices/infrastructure
shopping experiences.24 and identifying providers (figure 7).
Nearly all expect their organization to be
Enterprises adopt Wi-Fi 6 and 5G in using both 5G and Wi-Fi 6 within the next
parallel two to three years. Projected investment
The huge amount of attention advertisers reflects coadoption as well: Over the next
and news editors have lavished on three years, these organizations expect
5G has undeniably overshadowed to split their wireless spending fairly
Wi-Fi 6. But both will have a significant evenly between Wi-Fi (48%) and cellular
role to play in the future of wireless. technologies (52%).
Unlike past generations of wireless, 5G
cellular and Wi-Fi 6 networks will be Parallel adoption of 5G and Wi-Fi 6 is also
able to interoperate seamlessly with apparent when we take a deeper look
one another and are widely regarded by country (figure 8). In all geographies
as complementary technologies in studied, more than half the networking
the wireless ecosystem.25 Standards executives report their organization
12Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 7: Organizations are adopting Wi-Fi 6 and 5G in parallel to meet the needs of their
advanced wireless initiatives
Wi-Fi 6
Planning to
Piloting/ Preparing
Deploying use in two
experimenting to use
to three years
19%
Deploying 8%
3% 2%
Piloting/ 10% 9%
experimenting 6%
2%
5G
Preparing 13%
to use 8%
5%
2%
Planning to
use in two
to three years 6%
2% 1% 3%
45% are already deploying or piloting both 5G and Wi-Fi 6
80% are deploying, piloting, or preparing to use both 5G and Wi-Fi 6
98% believe they’ll be using both technologies within two to three years
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
deploys or pilots Wi-Fi 6, and in Germany, for 5G services, and some auctions have
Brazil, the United Kingdom, China, and faced delays. The Netherlands didn’t
Australia, the adoption percentage complete its first 5G spectrum auction
reaches 70% or higher. These countries until mid-2020.27 Both India and Brazil
also report the highest levels of 5G had targeted 2020 for auctions, but the
deployments/pilots. pandemic postponed those plans.28 It’s
no surprise that the three countries
Wi-Fi 6 has an adoption lead over 5G in all with the highest levels of 5G adoption—
countries studied, but double-digit gaps Germany, China, Australia—all had 5G
are apparent in the Netherlands, Brazil, spectrum auctions in 2018 or 2019, giving
and the United Kingdom. Spectrum their commercial rollouts of 5G a head
availability is likely a contributor to start before COVID-19 hit.29
the comparatively slower pace of 5G
adoption: While Wi-Fi 6 uses unlicensed
spectrum (and therefore has a lower-cost
path of entry), 5G initiatives generally
require that government regulators
auction or allocate spectrum suitable
13Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 8: Deployments/pilots of Wi-Fi 6 currently surpass deployments/pilots of 5G in all
countries we studied, with the biggest deltas occurring in the Netherlands, Brazil, and the
United Kingdom
Deploying + piloting
Wi-Fi 6 adoption 5G adoption Wi-Fi 6 vs. 5G
Germany 46% 32% 30% 44% +4
Brazil 61% 16% 43% 20% +14
United Kingdom 41% 31% 37% 22% +13
China 30% 42% 40% 30% +2
Australia 45% 25% 37% 29% +4
Netherlands 28% 34% 34% 10% +18
Japan 29% 25% 24% 27% +3
Portugal 28% 24% 14% 34% +4
Deploying Piloting/experimenting
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
14Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
India perspective
The fledgling digital ecosystem and the critical for organizations to support and
pandemic have accelerated the shift maintain their business operations.
towards advanced wireless solution use
COVID-19 has further accelerated the Our study corroborates this: A majority
digital transformation pace in India. of networking Indian executives (~71%)
With immense growth in broadband intend to boost their wireless networking
users, India is witnessing one of the investments to higher than the global
highest monthly average wireless data average due to the pandemic. The prime
consumption rates (12.15 GB) per user, investment is going towards enhancing
reaching ~8.2 exabytes (EB) monthly, customer engagements through digital
at a 265.3% CAGR during 2016-20.30 platforms, increasing bandwidth for
This surge is expected to continue as remote workers, and creating enhanced
remote working setups and enhanced solutions to address new use cases.
connectivity solutions have become
Figure 9: More than half of surveyed executives plan to invest more in wireless
networking after COVID-19; India followed by the United Kingdom and Australia
are running high on investment optimism
IN
18% 12% 71%
UK
13% 26% 61%
AUS
25% 16% 59%
BRZ
31% 14% 53%
GER
6% 46% 48%
JPN
25% 27% 47%
POR
38% 17% 45%
CH
22% 36% 42%
NTH
36% 40% 24%
Causing our organization to invest less
Causing our organization to invest at the same level as we would have without the crisis
Causing our organization to invest more
Note: The charts above might not add up to 100% owing to a small proportion who reported ‘Don't know/unsure’
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
The ability to address business wireless networking investments. Close
disruptions—coupled with increased to half of surveyed executives believe
bandwidth requirement and seamless that this will be prioritized along with
customer engagement—by utilizing the capability to address new use cases
digital platforms is the top reason why and network security enhancements for
Indian companies intend to increase their seamless operations.
15Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
More than two- and this is also expected to hold true
over the next three years. Adoption is
third Indian also set to take on more urgency where
one-third network executives view the
enterprises are not technologies as being critically important
for their enterprises today and expect
extremely satisfied it to become more critical over the next
three years.
with operational Executives are realizing the potential
performances benefits of next-generation technologies
enabled by future connectivity
of their wireless solutions, and thus, plan to prioritize
and invest in technologies that are
networks essential to their business’ success.
Envisioning the wireless traffic across
Indian enterprises, approximately 94%
executives expect that utilization of
5G and Wi-Fi 6 will overtake previous
network generations in next three years.
Prioritizing investments across next-
Keeping that in mind, close to four out
generation wireless technologies
of five executives today and in the near
With significant deficiencies around
future expect services through 5G and
network performances, executives in
Wi-Fi 6-enabled platforms to be a top
India have recognized the importance
priority. This is followed by advanced
of data-driven technologies and their
connectivity solutions through IoT
transformational capabilities.
services, maximizing opportunities
for machine networking and thereby,
Organizations are expected to invest
improving enterprise-wide operations
significantly in network transformational
and monitoring.
programs for adapting to varying
customer and employee needs and
proliferation of next-generation wireless
services, coupled with digital platforms. Executives in India
As we understand, legacy networks place 5G, Wi-Fi 6
were either closed, complex, inflexible,
or had limited scalability. These and Nb-IoT most
characteristics meant that networks
had to be transformed for the evolving critical to their
digital world where speed, agility,
openness, flexibility, and responsiveness business today and
are pre-requisites for success. Almost
all executives surveyed currently see in future - highest
advanced wireless technologies as very
or critically important for their business, among global peers
16Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 10: More than 90% Indian executives believe that 5G will become a key
priority three years from now, overtaking previous network generations
100% 90.2%
80.4% 78.4%
90%
72.5%
80%
62.7%
70% 58.8%
60% 43.1%
50% 17.6%
40% 19.6%
19.6%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5 or 4G 5G Wi-Fi
Wifi 66 NB-IoT / LPWA
below)
Current priority Future priority
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
In the next three years, organizations
across India, China, and the United Businesses in India
Kingdom are poised to place the
highest priorities on 5G and Wi-Fi 6 rank second among
among all surveyed countries. In view
of the aforesaid strategic priorities, global peers in
organizations are planning significant
investments across hardware/equipment, terms of willingness
devices, software, and installation
along with operations services. Our to spend on
respondents across Indian organizations
estimate their three-year spending at wireless networking
~US$165 million (excluding spectrum
fees) on an average, only next to Japan, technology to meet
making India one of the leading countries
with the highest spend forecast. performance gaps
17Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
To make an investment choice in surveyed organizations are preparing
deploying either 5G or Wi-Fi solutions, to use both 5G and Wi-Fi 6 in varying
the essential role of Wi-Fi for providing capacities, such as acquiring devices/
high-speed, reliable, and affordable infrastructure, identifying potential
wireless broadband connectivity should providers, and building partnerships.
be acknowledged. With significant While 39% organizations report that they
potential benefits, both 5G and Wi-Fi already have started 5G-enabled pilots,
are expected to work together, rather around 63% have gone ahead with their
than compete, for an enhanced user experiments using Wi-Fi 6.
experience. As of now, around 26%
Figure 11: 5G is a journey that has just begun in India; a long haul away from
emerging in full capacity. Organizations have100%
launched pilots across technologies
to meet their advanced wireless initiatives’ needs 10%
90% 1
80% 33%
100%
70%
10%
90% 14%
60% 63%
80% 33%
50% 6
70% 39%
40%
60% 63%
30%
50% 69%
39% 20%
40% 26% 28%
10%
1
30%
0%
20% 5G WiFi6 NBIoT
26% 28%
10%
No plans to use in near term 14%
0%
5G Planning
WiFi6
Wi-Fi 6 to use in the next 2-3 years
NBIoT/LPWA
No plans to use in near term Started pilots/experiments in several
departments
Planning to use in the next 2-3 years
Preparing to use
Started pilots/experiments in several
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
departments
18Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Advanced wireless is
foundational to innovation
and transformation
An overwhelming majority of networking substantially transform their organization
executives expect advanced wireless within three years, and nearly as many
technologies to transform both their say the same about the effect on their
enterprises and industries in the industry (figure 12). Because their
near term—especially remarkable industry peers will be transforming
considering that 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are the nearly as fast as their own organizations,
latest generations of technologies that many of these executives are likely feeling
have been evolving for decades. Four enormous competitive pressure to
in five believe advanced wireless will quickly realize benefits.
19Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 12: Networking executives overwhelmingly believe advanced wireless will transform their
organizations and industries within three years
Effect of advanced wireless within
three years:
53%
78% say it will transform their
organization
69% say it will transform their
industry
41%
22% 23%
21%
15%
6%
4% 4%
4%
2% 3%
Now Less than In In Beyond May never
1 year 1–3 years 3–5 years 5 years substantially
transform
Advanced wireless networking will transform our company
Advanced wireless networking will transform our industry
Note: N=437 global networking executives. Percentages may not total 100%, due to a small number who reported
“Don’t know.”
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
Fueling innovation that drive to innovate is motivating
Advanced networking is becoming an them to adopt next-gen networking.
essential part of organizations’ innovation In fact, the desire to take advantage of
architecture. Rather than merely new technologies, such as AI, big data
representing the latest-and-greatest analytics, and edge computing is a top
improvements in wireless technologies, driver for advanced wireless adoption,
next-gen connectivity is becoming an tied with improving efficiency (figure
integral part of how companies are 13). Enhancing customer interactions
innovating and transforming—changing rounds out the top three sought-after
how they operate, develop new products benefits. It’s worth noting that, in our
and business models, and engage with early 2020 study, improving efficiency
customers. Indeed, three-quarters of was solidly in the top spot, while taking
networking decision-makers believe advantage of new technologies placed
their organization can create significant third. The latter has now risen to first
competitive advantage by leveraging place. Another innovation activity—
advanced networking technologies and creating new business models—has
four in five believe advanced connectivity also moved up several rungs. Leaders
will be critically important for enhancing cited improved performance and
customer interactions within three years. operational characteristics of advanced
wireless—such as faster data speeds,
A majority of survey respondents improved coverage, lower latency,
(56%) see their company’s current enhanced security, better reliability, and
networking infrastructure as preventing interoperability—as important attributes
them from addressing the innovative for achieving the benefits of advanced
use cases they want to target—and wireless.
20Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 13: Motivations for adopting advanced wireless include innovating, improving
operations and products, and enhancing interactions with customers
and employees
Percent ranking each a top-three benefit their organization is aiming to achieve with advanced
wireless
Taking advantage of new
technologies 38%
Improved efficiencies 38%
Improved customer
32%
interactions
Improved security 28%
New business models 27%
Better products/services 26%
Creation of new
25%
products/services
Better decisions 24%
Reduced costs 23%
Enhanced employee
experience 19%
Innovating Improving Enhancing interactions
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
Taking a closer look at countries, the emphasis on certain objectives outside
top three overall motivators—taking these three—for example, new business
advantage of new technologies, models (Japan, Netherlands, Portugal),
improving efficiency, and improving better products/services (Germany,
customer interactions—generally Portugal), creation of new products/
resonate in most geographies (figure services (China, Australia), and reduced
14). However, some countries place high costs (Brazil).
21Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 14: Some countries have top objectives outside the overall most popular, such
as “reduced costs” in Brazil, “new business models” in Portugal, Japan, and the Netherlands
Percent ranking each a top-three benefit their organization is aiming to achieve with advanced wireless
Netherlands
Germany
Kingdom
Australia
Portugal
United
Japan
China
Brazil
India
All
Taking advantage 38% 43% 31% 44% 22% 59% 35% 40% 21% 43%
of new technologies
Improved
38% 39% 37% 42% 44% 35% 35% 28% 24% 52%
efficiencies
Improved customer 32% 39% 31% 18% 30% 51% 22% 22% 45% 37%
interactions
Improved security 28% 27% 31% 24% 36% 33% 25% 14% 28% 33%
New business
27% 24% 24% 28% 20% 18% 31% 34% 52% 22%
models
Better
26% 20% 16% 34% 32% 25% 27% 26% 34% 20%
products/services
Creation of new
25% 37% 25% 48% 20% 18% 12% 22% 17% 22%
products/services
Better decisions 24% 22% 22% 24% 26% 20% 31% 20% 34% 24%
Reduced costs 23% 22% 39% 20% 28% 22% 16% 30% 14% 11%
Enhanced employee
19% 24% 20% 6% 16% 20% 20% 32% 10% 24%
experience
#1 objective #2 objective #3 objective
Note: Networking executives based in Australia (N=51), Brazil (N=51) , China (N=50), Germany (N=50), India (N=51),
Japan (N=51), Netherlands (N=50), Portugal (N=29), and United Kingdom (N=54).
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
22Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Advanced networking at the core More than ever, these technologies are
Networking executives resoundingly view intertwined and converging in enterprise
advanced wireless as integral to their innovation initiatives (see sidebar,
efforts to deploy innovative technologies “Innovating globally with advanced
at the heart of their digital transformation connectivity”). With advanced networking
efforts, including big data analytics, cloud becoming intrinsic, how organizations
computing, edge computing, AI, and IoT. adopt and architect their advanced
Remarkably, 99% of our respondents wireless solutions is no longer a separate
said their companies are pursuing each decision from how they implement
of these technologies in the coming other innovative technologies: Leaders
year, despite it not being a requirement should increasingly consider advanced
for survey participation. Four in five networking a key component of an
networking executives consider advanced organization’s end-to-end enterprise
wireless very/extremely important to architecture.
their organization’s ability to implement
IoT, big data analytics, AI, and edge
computing—and even more say the same
for cloud computing (figure 15).
Figure 15: Executives see advanced wireless networks (including 5G and Wi-Fi 6) as
foundational to taking advantage of other advanced technologies
Importance of advanced wireless to company’s ability to implement each technology
Edge computing 43% 36%
AI 32% 48%
Big data analytics 36% 46%
IoT 39% 43%
Cloud computing 31% 58%
Very important Extremely important
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
23Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Innovating globally with advanced connectivity
Private 5G networks enable smart factories. Germany’s telecommunications regulator awarded
licenses for deploying “private 5G” networks, which are initially expected to support industrial IoT.31
The characteristics offered by 5G—ultrahigh reliability, submillisecond latency, availability, and high
security—are seen as a good fit for critical industrial applications that require real-time control, such as
robot and machine mobility and industrial automation.
Industrial conglomerate Robert Bosch GmbH, together with Nokia, has rolled out a private 5G network
at its lead plant for Industry 4.0 in Germany—a step toward its vision of a highly efficient “factory of
the future.” 32 The factory has an automated transport system consisting of 5G-connected automated
guided vehicles that are able to move and deliver loads throughout the facility while safely avoiding
other vehicles, objects, and people.
Bosch Rexroth AG—a Bavaria-based division focused on manufacturing equipment—has outfitted
a production floor with a private 5G network that connects machines, robots, and precision power
tools.33 The network, along with predictive analytics and AI, allows the company to coordinate and
optimize production operations.
Next-gen connectivity powers immersive experiences. The Olympics has long been a place to
showcase innovative technologies, and the 2021 summer games planned for Tokyo34 promise to carry
on that tradition. Intel expects to run a VR experience over a 5G network at the games: A multitude
of cameras installed around an arena will collect live video, and viewers around the world with VR
headsets will be able to look around the venues and experience the sporting events as if they’re right
next to the athletes.35 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. is piloting a hologram system that
captures ultrahigh-definition 8K video of athletes and creates holograms that mirror their moves; the
speed and low latency of 5G networks can enable spectators in other locations to watch the holograms
in real time.
In Brazil, a partnership between Claro and Ericsson has already demonstrated the use of 5G technology
for a real-time holographic experience: In October 2019, a musician played at the Claro Brasil offices,
and the audience in a 5G-connected stadium 17km away was able to experience his performance as
a hologram.36 High-definition video was also set up between the orchestra and its conductor, and
attendees with 5G-equipped VR devices were able to watch the real-time movements of the musicians
as an immersive experience.
IoT, AI, and 5G meet at the intelligent edge for automated inspections. Haier, a global household
appliance manufacturer headquartered in China, has developed a system to automatically inspect
new stainless steel refrigerators in a production line, using high-definition, 5G-connected industrial
cameras, edge computing servers equipped with machine-vision image-processing capabilities, and
offsite servers performing AI-based training.37 Conventional production involved time-consuming
manual inspection of new refrigerators for scratches, dents, or other imperfections. In the new
solution, cameras along the production line capture real-time video of each appliance and send it
via 5G to an edge computing platform. On the edge server, machine-vision algorithms perform near-
real-time image analysis to detect defects—and the results are used to increase the accuracy of the
AI model over time. The system has improved both production performance and product quality
monitoring.
24Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
India perspective
Advent of digital disruptors that are
transforming organizations
India is leading along
Transformation through digital
disruptors such as Cloud, block-chain,
with the United
AI, and advanced analytics are driving
demand and deployment of new
Kingdom and Brazil
services. While building cross-sector
use cases, the programs executing
to be most optimistic
these transformations are expected to
focus on employees, customers, and
in leveraging
machine-centric networking. Based on
various combinations of next-generation
next-generation
platforms and solutions, potential
business value is expected to maximize
technologies to
through technology conquests and
converging industries. To realize such
implement emerging
opportunities presented by evolving
business models, a strong collaboration
services
between industry verticals, application
providers, and connectivity providers
is a necessity. In view of the aforesaid,
networking executives expect advanced
wireless technologies to transform both
their enterprise and industries in the
near future.
Figure 16: 88% Indian executives believe that advanced wireless services will
substantially transform their organization within three years
80.0%
74.5%
70.0%
60.0% 52.9%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0% 29.4%
20.0%
13.7%
10.0% 9.8%
3.9%
2.0% 0.0%
0.0%
Less than 1 year In 1-3 years In 3-5 years Beyond 5 years May never have a
substantial
transformative
impact
Advance wireless networking will tranform our industry
Advance wireless networking will tranform our company
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
25Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Enterprises are targeting a wide range interactive digital whiteboards, whereas,
of usage scenarios to fuel innovation Wi-Fi 6 can replace wired connections
Overall, Indian organizations are for desktop phones and LANs for fixed
expecting to witness the benefits of wireless broadband access.
these technologies for themselves
sooner than industry-wide change. With Advance networking is also expected
approximately 94% average executives to enable new applications for machine
now realizing the importance of Big Data, connectivity, which will further improve
Cloud, AI, edge computing and IoT in remote asset monitoring, while building
their organization, India along with the intelligent vehicular, factory, or retail
United Kingdom and Brazil are the most networks for high safety and productivity
optimistic in gauging and implementing standard compliance. With regards to
such technologies in their organizations. customer networking, next-generation
To deliver customer and machine-centric wireless technologies may improve upon
services and to all employees, advanced Quality of Experience (QoE) with reliable
wireless technologies are expected data across enterprise customers in
to have characteristics of ubiquitous health care (remote patient consultations,
availability, increased reliability, and diagnostics, and monitoring); network
higher throughput, which can be further edge -computing enabled digital services;
harvested through various innovative deep insights; and forecasting across
use cases for a connected ecosystem. enterprise functions through advance
A majority of Indian executives rate analytics, etc.
performance efficiencies such as data
speed and coverage higher than device
density, followed by latency and
location accuracy.
Two-third
A successful use-case implementation
organizations in
would require multiple trials with relevant
technology solutions across enterprises.
India believe that
Indian enterprises expect to target use
cases with a blend of indoor and outdoor
existing networking
scenarios on top of fixed and mobile
networks. When it comes to employee
infrastructure is
connectivity, both inside and outside the
office, top cases may involve enhancing
preventing them
workplace communication along IT
administration. 5G services may provide
from innovation:
high-speed mobility access to improve
collaboration and productivity through
The highest among
high-resolution virtual conferences and global peers
26Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 17: Indian businesses along with a majority of global peers believe that workplace
communication, advanced customer experience, and enhanced remote working capabilities
are key for employee, customer, and machine centric-use cases
Employee networking Customer networking Machine networking
u c ti v i t y u c ti v i t y u c ti v i t y
Prod Prod Prod
r
IT a me com E ng com
tio
n d to ki
it y
it y
it y
commun ace
a ce
nh unication
r
exper cus
m
M nication
Wo
m
m
tional stabil
tional stabil
tional stabil
pl
ic
ini
an
i en
2M
u
Advance
Work
irations
irations
irations
s
Remote
ced
tration
Top three Top three Top three
priorities priorities priorities
for India for India for India
A sp
A sp
A sp
era
era
era
N e t w or k Advance Advance
Op
Op
Op
ma
nagement a na l y t i c s a na l y t i c s
Other use cases in India: Ranked from highest to lowest priority
• Advance collaboration • Digital payments • Automation
High tools High High
• Security and fraud • Asset tracking
• Advanced usage prevention
• Machine installations
analytics
• Automation and repairs
• Employee training
• Asset tracking • Predictive maintenance
• Automation
• On-demand, real-time • Worker or physician
• Field force data access training
Low Low Low
• Asset tracking • Mobility • Wearable technology
communication
Global perspective
Global peers rank workplace Organizations around the Each geography has a unique set
communication, IT world are preferring advanced of machine networking use cases
administration, and advanced customer experiences, security/ that it is more inclined to pursue
collaboration as their top use fraud prevention, and advanced
cases analytics as their top use cases
Source: Deloitte Analysis
27Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
After Japan and of the 3.5 GHz range) for local enterprises
so they can build their own private 5G
United Kingdom, networks. In this regard, after Japan and
the United Kingdom, India is observed
India is least to have the least inclination towards
private 5G and is most likely to go for a
inclined towards combination of both public and private
5G slice. Additionally, Indian executives
private 5G and is expect to ride on telco-enabled 5G slices
to cater to their use case scenarios on
most likely to go the belief that utilizing services through a
wireless provider is preferable to acquiring
for a combination spectrum directly from a government/
regulatory body or gaining exclusive rights
of both public and on a dedicated or shared spectrum.
private 5G slice However, a majority of executives feel
existing cyber-security apparatus and
concerns around service reliability and
quality are inhibitors to be addressed
To address the need for an advance
in public 5G service adoption. With
wireless network, global operators are
technological changes redefining business
targeting and allocating all types of
and operating models, it has now become
spectrum, comprising licensed (shared or
imperative for enterprises to capture the
exclusive) and unlicensed. The aforesaid
upside of this disruption and mitigate
spectrum categories are expected to
bottlenecks to continuously focus on
offer industries with options to proliferate
enhancing digital infrastructure. Adopting
through private and public 5G and Wi-Fi
key lessons from global practices is
networks. Further, advanced 5G features
imperative to propel Indian enterprises
such as public and private network slicing,
towards spearheading infrastructure
along with a multi-access edge computing
for an adaptable, assured, and agnostic
service is expected to support the needs
model of connectivity.
of industry-vertical sectors. Network
slicing shall bring precisely tailored
services per the needs of an organization,
in terms of required service quality, Two-third
speed, security, latency, etc. Moreover,
edge computing is expected to bring organizations in
compute capabilities closer to enterprise
end-users, which can enable low latencies India believe that
and customized local services.
existing networking
Globally, regulators have been making
spectrum available for 5G in conventional infrastructure is
ways (for instance, auctions with exclusive
rights). However, some regulators have preventing them
also set-aside a portion of spectrum in
priority 5G bands (for example, a portion from innovation
28Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
How adoption of advanced
wireless is unfolding
Organizations are approaching advanced When it comes to influencing an
wireless adoption as a strategic organization’s decisions around advanced
technology initiative, led by technologists wireless, IT staff and technology vendors
both inside and outside the enterprise. hold the most sway, followed by wireless
The IT function—both C-level executives carriers and the company’s executives
and practitioners—leads the charge (figure 19).
to adopt, followed by C-level business
executives (figure 18).
29Accelerating enterprise innovation and transformation with 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Figure 18: Within organizations, IT executives and practitioners lead the charge to adopt
advanced wireless
Percent ranking each a top-three role leading the charge for adopting advanced wireless at their
organization
CIO/CTO 63%
IT managers 47%
CEO/President 39%
IT executives below C-level 36%
Other C-level executives 26%
Corporate board 22%
Business managers 19%
Business executives below C-level 17%
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
Figure 19: IT staff and technology vendors have the most influence on organizations’ advanced
wireless choices.
Percent ranking each a top-three influencer guiding their organization’s advanced wireless choices
Our IT staff 51%
Technology vendors 41%
Telecom/wireless carriers 33%
Our executives 32%
Our clients/customers 25%
Our business staff
(e.g., product development) 24%
Telecom analysts/consultants 22%
Competitor actions 19%
Standards bodies 13%
Trade publications 8%
Note: N=437 global networking executives.
Source: Deloitte’s Study of Advanced Wireless Adoption, Global Edition, 2021.
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