Paving the way for the 5G device ecosystem

A thriving device ecosystem is key to unlocking the full business potential of the mobile communications market, and having the right device for your use case is a critical part of the business set up regardless of the industry.

According to the latest Ericsson mobility report, on a global level, 5G network deployments are expected to continue ramping up during 2020, building the foundation for massive adoption of 5G subscriptions. Over the next six years, 5G subscription uptake is expected to be significantly faster than that of LTE, following its launch back in 2009.

It’s projected that in 2025, 90 percent of communications subscriptions will be for mobile broadband. Ericsson estimates that there will be 8.9 billion mobile subscriptions by the end of 2025, out of which around 90 percent will be for mobile broadband. Mobile traffic is also expected to grow by 27 percent annually between 2019 and 2025.

Connected vehicles and road infrastructure are part of a broader IoT ecosystem that is continuously evolving. The automotive industry is expected to be among the top four industries in terms of the 5G-enabled opportunity for service providers in 2030. The connectivity needs of the automotive and transport ecosystem are diverse and complex, requiring a common network solution, rather than several single-segment solutions. Vehicles can be seen as multipurpose devices in which several connectivity-dependent use cases are executed simultaneously.

Complexities when launching new mobile equipment or devices on a global scale

Planning the launch and commercialization strategy for mobile equipment and devices should start early, ideally during the R&D stage as each mobile equipment and device must comply with all the applicable requirements and regulations for the targeted markets.

Experienced device and mobile equipment manufacturers have compliance procedures in place, however ones that are not experienced in mobile communications are implementing wireless technologies into their devices and being confronted with many complexities, including the miniaturization of devices, greater supplier diversity, non-standard applications and more protocols to manage.

Manufacturers of mobile equipment and devices have their own set of challenges to address:

• Increase visibility of their product portfolio within new customer segments
• Gain traction for devices focusing on new technologies (NB-IoT, 5G, etc.)
• Understanding which test house to use for which testing and certification based on the targeted commercialization countries
• Contacting and engaging with Communications Service Providers (CSPs) for possible device collaborations

For communication services providers and their enterprise customers, the challenges are different:

• Service providers need to support their enterprise customers with specific mobile equipment and device related issues
• Gain knowledge of available mobile equipment and devices with specific technologies and services
• Search and find mobile equipment and devices that can possibly be used in specific markets
• Search and find equipment which meets the right requirements
• How to approach and support the Massive IoT market (NB-IoT, Cat-M1, 5G) equipment and devices

At Ericsson, our goal is to help our customers navigate these complexities, so we created the Ericsson Device Hub ecosystem. The Device Hub provides a true one-stop-shop for global device testing and certification for the industry through an easy-to-access web portal.

The device hub also aims to be a trusted tool used by all industry players to expand the availability of connected mobile equipment and devices globally by including specific tools and reports that serve all ecosystem partners and with added benefits including faster time-to-market and the upmost quality for all required testing and certification services

Learn more about the Ericsson Device Hub

Ericsson signs a global partner agreement with TÜV Rheinland, a leading provider of testing services.