Although 5G has seen its fair share of hype, the actual adoption of the service has been slower than anticipated, and monetizing the technology has been even harder.

However, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) is looking to do just that, leaning into 5G and gaining traction in widening its adoption and efficiency.

“5G can be viewed from two lenses,” said Shahid Ahmed (pictured), group executive vice president of new ventures and innovation at NTT Corp. “One is just you and I using our cell phones, we get 5G coverage. And the other one is for businesses to use 5G, and we call that private 5G or enterprise-grade 5G. Two very separate distinct things, but it is 5G in the end. “Now the big debate here in Europe and the U.S. is how to monetize 5G.”

Ahmed spoke with theCUBE industry analysts Dave Vellante and Dave Nicholson at MWC 2023, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed monetizing 5G, net neutrality, content strategies and more. (* Disclosure below.)

Keeping networking neutral

Network neutrality, the idea that internet service providers, such as Comcast and Verizon, should treat all network data equally without discrimination, has been a hot-button issue for years. This issue doesn’t just inconvenience the average internet user and hike up internet bills, it stunts creativity and innovation, according to Ahmed.

“If you create a tollway, where some companies must pay a toll and others don’t have to, you create an environment where the innovation could be stifled. Content providers may not appear on the scene anymore,” he said. “With everything happening around AI, we may see that backfire. Creating a toll for rich companies to be able to pay that toll and get on a faster speed internet may work in some places but may backfire in others.”

Even as 5G adoption lags behind, there are profitable opportunities to be found if telco providers look for the right clients. NTT is making the push into private 5G, recognizing the monetary opportunities available for those willing to take on the business side of 5G networking.

“We’re showing off our private 5G network for enterprises and businesses. We see this as a huge opportunity,” Ahmed said. “If you look around here, you’ve got Rohde & Schwarz, that’s the industrial company. You’ve got Airbus here. All the big industrial companies are here. Automotive companies and private 5G. 5G inside a factory, a hospital, a warehouse, or a mining operation. That’s where the dollars are. “

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the MWC 2023 event:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for MWC 2023. Neither Dell Technologies Inc., the primary sponsor for theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE