5G: 47% of industry entrepreneurs are unaware of the technology – 10/06/2023 – Market

Almost half (47%) of industry entrepreneurs still say they know little or nothing about 5G’s capabilities. Among companies that say they have no knowledge at all, 79% do not discuss the topic within the company.

Still, adopting 5G technology is considered important or very important for 61% of industrial entrepreneurs, according to an unprecedented survey carried out by the CNI (National Confederation of Industry), released this Friday (6).

The same level, 6 in 10 of those who do not yet have a 5G network installed, say they foresee investments in the technology in the next 12 months, and 14% do not believe that the company will invest resources in a network.

The data also shows that 54% of the companies interviewed do not even discuss installing the network and point to the lack of infrastructure in the region where they are located and the high cost of implementing the technology as the main problems.

The lack of discussion about adopting a 5G network is greater among small industries (55%) and companies in the Southeast (57%). In 9% of the total sample there is a formal technology implementation plan, while in 7% this plan has not yet been put into practice.

When asked about the topic, 64% of businesspeople pointed out the lack of adequate infrastructure in the region. The high cost of solutions and equipment for private networks, the lack of support from operators and the high cost of providing and maintaining the service appear tied in second place.

Among the businesspeople consulted who say they consider the technology relevant, 35% discuss the topic, but do not have a formal 5G implementation plan, 14% already have a plan built and only 8% already have a network installed.

“The incorporation of 5G technology plays an important role in Brazilian industrial performance, especially in the context of digitalization of production, which we call industry 4.0”, stated the president of the CNI, Robson Braga de Andrade, in a statement.

The main difference between 5G and 4G is the speed of information transfer, called latency. The confederation recalls that the new 5G network will allow the interconnection of equipment and devices and enabling access to innovative products and household utilities, developing the so-called IoT (Internet of Things).

One of the industry’s expectations is that the expansion of 5G technology will facilitate the automation process and the integration of different technologies that include artificial intelligence and robotics.

“More agility and efficiency in communication systems translate into productivity gains and more competitiveness”, added Andrade.

For Samantha Cinha, Industrial Policy manager at CNI, there is an expectation regarding 5G in the industry, considered a passport to the acceleration of digitalization in the country. “The network directly contributes to the automation and integration of different technologies that include artificial intelligence, robotics and the internet of things.”

1,002 technology executives from small, medium and large industries were interviewed, from all regions of the country, from the 8th to the 20th of March. The margin of error is three percentage points.

According to a survey carried out by InvestSP, an agency linked to the Secretariat of Economic Development, the total number of cities in the state of São Paulo that updated their laws to facilitate the installation of cellular antennas, necessary for the expansion of 5G, rose to 125 by the beginning of June.