Telecom carriers have been aggressively rolling out fifth-generation or 5G services. Green shoots have just started appearing with the first 5G use case – FWA. Profitability is under stress, average revenue per user (ARPU) has marginally increased due to 5G-led data uptake but telcos are yet to realize return on investment (RoI) in the absence of locally-relevant next generation use cases.

The dynamics of the telecom sector is poised to undergo a significant shift as the next generation networks see a passageway into the enterprise sector massively contributing to Industry 4.0 and digital economy. 5G-Advanced architecture is likely to drive telecom networks in coming years. India is making a headstart in 6G technology, which is set to redefine the future of communications, enabling artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to become mainstream, with ambitions to contribute in standards and patents.