4G versus 5G: balancing today’s capabilities and tomorrow’s promise

As 5G network rollouts and service launches move forward, mobile operators and vendors face critical decisions: how do they divide their attention and investment between 4G and 5G? How do they invest in network infrastructure? How do they invest in technology development and messaging? This is part of nearly every technology transition. Yet, despite its familiarity, it is still a real issue for service providers. Where they put their resources (time and money) affects how they can address market demand, along with the image they present to the market.

This dynamic was on display at Mobile World Congress Shanghai recently, with the show providing insight into how the market and vendors were handling the need to split attention between today’s capabilities and tomorrow’s promise.