Infosys is ready to disrupt enterprise use cases with its new 5G-as-a-service offering

5G provides faster speeds, lower latency, and tighter security, increasing device density and enhancing enterprise applications. It’s been making a buzz in the market, even if it’s just the next generation of the wireless standard after previous 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G generations, due to its high performance and connectivity experience, which none of the previous generations where able to offer. Exhibit 1 shows the various generations of connectivity standards since 1G.
5G has been expanding its reach across industries, and the number of related use cases is growing exponentially. Enterprises are investing more in 5G technology to stay competitive.

To meet this growing demand and simplify deployment for enterprises, Infosys has launched 5G-as-a-service. The solution can be tailored to support CIOs, IT managers, and digital transformation leaders to reduce complexity and integrate 5G with client-specific requirements.

Exhibit 1: With every generation of connectivity, features, and functions have upgraded

Source: HFS Research, 2023

Enterprises need 5G to drive innovation and unlock new opportunities

5G technology is becoming an increasingly important part of the enterprise in today’s digital landscape. In some industries, businesses can use 5G capabilities. As the number of IoT devices increases, 5G can help with faster data transfer speeds, reduced latency, and improved network reliability, addressing the growing need for efficient communication among devices across industries.

Due to its network capabilities, 5G also helps with better outcomes in areas such as remote work, smart cities, telemedicine, and autonomous vehicles. Some capabilities are mentioned in Exhibit 2.

Exhibit 2: 5G capabilities are a leap in network space

Source: HFS Research, 2023

Our research in Exhibit 3 shows that 77% of firms expect to increase investments in 5G technology over the next 12 to 18 months.

Exhibit 3: 77% of firms expect to increase investment in 5G technology

Sample: n=750 executives
Source: HFS Research, 2023

Infosys’ customizable private 5G-as-a-service helps to mitigate the cost, time, and scalability risk for the enterprise

Infosys’ private 5G-as-a-service is a solution designed to accelerate business value for enterprise clients. It brings together Infosys’ industry expertise through pre-integrated verticalized business solutions, modular architecture, and an extensive partner ecosystem to help enterprises accelerate their existing operating environments and new offerings and services. The solutions are customized, scalable, and implemented in an agile and time-bound manner. Tailoring to clients’ requirements enables clients to maintain their focus on their core operations. The pre-integrated 5G stack helps firms streamline deployment, reduce complexity, and ensure compatibility. By bundling essential components and services from multiple vendors into a unified solution, enterprises can save time, resources, and effort. Exhibit 4 shows the pros and cons associated with Infosys’ 5G-as-a-service.

Exhibit 4: Infosys’ private 5G-as-a-Service shows promise, but it has challenges

Source: HFS Research, 2023

The Bottom Line: Infosys’ 5G-as-a-service offers a shortcut to 5G capability, but enterprises must be sure it meets their longer-term needs, too.

By addressing deployment complexity and cost challenges, Infosys enables businesses to achieve faster, more reliable connectivity and unlock new opportunities. While the offering has promise, it will be crucial for clients to carefully evaluate this solution’s compatibility, flexibility, and scalability to ensure it meets their current needs and can support their roadmap as demand for connectivity continues to grow.