{"id":16156,"date":"2019-06-18T13:43:24","date_gmt":"2019-06-18T12:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=16156"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:59:10","slug":"gsma-beta-labs-saving-operators-millions-and-helping-to-usher-in-the-5g-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/article\/gsma-beta-labs-saving-operators-millions-and-helping-to-usher-in-the-5g-era\/","title":{"rendered":"GSMA BETA Labs: Saving Operators Millions and Helping to Usher in the 5G Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 5G era promises to deliver incredible mobile broadband speeds, transforming society and ushering in a host of socio-economic benefits. It\u2019s expected to be the panacea that will address a diverse array of requirements and use cases such as enhanced transportation, public services and healthcare. We will even be able to \u2018slice<\/a>\u2019 networks to cater to the specific requirements of different business needs. However, before this vision is realised, there are a number of challenges and complexities mobile operators and the wider industry need to overcome.<\/p>\n

The most pressing concern includes how operators will cover the immense investment costs and outlay on resources, which come at a time when the average revenue per user (ARPU) is stagnating in many markets around the world and competition from within and outside of the mobile \/ telecom sector is increasingly fierce. This will include investment in new infrastructure, upgrades to existing sites and spectrum licenses. For 5G to be a success, investment must be delivered alongside measures to unlock additional value from the network in a cost-efficient manner, while keeping both CapEx and OpEx at a minimum.<\/p>\n

The GSMA BETA Labs<\/a> was established in MWC Americas 2018 and is the portal for all of the GSMA\u2019s work in this area and combines interactive, experiential events with information and data to support industry experts, operators and technology providers with the aim of increasing collaboration, cost reduction and enhancing processes on the road to 5G. The BETA Labs is part of the Network Economics workstream in the Future Networks programme, which profiles cost-reducing innovation in the 5G era. The project also aims to support the United Nations\u2019 Sustainable Development Goals by promoting the use of affordable and clean energy (SGD 7), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/climate-action\/ action (SDG13) as well as access to education. GSMA BETA Labs includes an online hub, which connects innovative companies of all sizes directly with global operators as well as a knowledge base to support operators and vendors in the development of solutions. Principally, it focuses on four specific areas:<\/p>\n