Three operators have announced new partnerships to support the digital transformation of vertical industries. In industrial sectors, KDDI is working with two logistics companies (Tsubakimoto Chain and Tsubakimoto Machinery) to automate warehouse distribution, while LG Uplus is partnering with automation specialist Fanuc to develop a smart factory platform to enable enterprises to remotely monitor and analyse machine tool operations in real time. In the US, T-Mobile is supporting ExteNet Systems’ plans to deploy digital wireless infrastructure in large sports, entertainment, hospitality and transport venues.
B2B is the main driver of operator revenue growth, according to GSMA Intelligence research , with further potential as digitisation of vertical sectors moves up the agenda. The new initiatives reiterate three important points. First, scalability is key. To that end, the automation system developed by KDDI and its partners will be compatible with a wide range of manufacturer devices. Second, business model innovation plays a role. LG Uplus will offer a cloud-based service using AI tools on a subscription model to reduce the initial investment cost. And third, the combination of operator expertise in 5G, cloud and security with the sector-specific know-how of partners is key to delivering end-to-end solutions to enterprise customers.