Telecom
Ericsson, MIT Technology Review Insights Release a Report on How Operators are Preparing for 5G
Ericsson, in collaboration with MIT Technology Review Insights, released a report titled “The 5G Operator” to examine how telecom operators are preparing for 5G opportunities and challenges.
5G network technology gives telecommunications operators the ability to deliver many new applications and services in dynamic ways. Low-latency connectivity, ultra-high broadband speeds, and mobile edge computing capabilities will create myriad innovative business opportunities as well as consumer experiences.
Many of 5G’s clearer use cases—such as autonomous vehicle fleets, internet of things, and management of fully-automated factories—are enterprise-focused, which gives operators a path to new revenue creation.
But such services are still only just emerging, and carriers do not possess all the vertical-industry knowledge or specific application development experience to effectively explore the seemingly infinite service opportunities that 5G presents.
There is a growing understanding that operators cannot do it alone, and that an innovative ecosystem of partners will be crucial to future success.
This report explores how IT and network executives at leading operators worldwide are creating a roadmap to 5G, including strategies for rethinking network operations, IT, business support systems (BSS), and business processes to accommodate a growing number of digital service partners in rapidly expanding ecosystems. The key findings are as follows:
- Collaboration is the operating model for 5G delivery. 5G provides telecoms operators with powerful technological capabilities that can dramatically accelerate the digital transformation of companies across industries and geographies.
But executives interviewed for this report state that getting the full value of 5G is not something they can do on their own. To take advantage of the infinite possibilities will require an ecosystem of partners, and partner collaboration will become the baseline for success.
Partnerships will include hardware and software companies, traditional and digital players, and large and small innovators—all of which can bring specific application and domain expertise needed to exploit new niches.
- Scaling 5G services will require an ‘app store’ style of customized connectivity. To be an effective innovation partner in the 5G era, BSS functions such as billing, service creation, and catalog management must be open and agile, and provide opportunity for partners to “plug-and-play.”
One implication of this is that BSS capabilities, empowered by AI, analytics, and automation, will provide building blocks for partners to employ by themselves in a type of “app store.”
The goal for becoming truly scalable and innovative is to become close to “zero touch,” which will require greater network and IT integration for the automation of key BSS functions such as “configure, price, quote.”
- Rich data sets offer infinite opportunities for automation, AI, and real-time insight. With increasingly rich data sets, operators are becoming their customers’ partners in business intelligence, AI, and in generating new opportunities for value creation.
This requires operators to become more embedded in their customers’ digital businesses using increasingly virtualized and automated capabilities, provisioning uniquely defined services around specific customer requirements.
- Cloud migration is a key success factor for BSS. Cloud migration is certainly at the top of the agenda for network operators in their preparation for 5G.
But there is less maturity in moving network functions to the cloud than there is in IT, and there is little appetite for moving stable applications to a cloud environment where they may be more costly or challenging to virtualize.
Customer experience is one capability that executives agree should be moved to the cloud—a virtualized, on-demand service delivery platform is the foundation upon which new innovative services will be created swiftly, in collaboration with the carrier, its service partners, and customers.
- 5G will be an organizational as well as technological transformation. From sales and marketing to operations, IT, network management, pricing, and billing, there will be enormous changes that operators must plan for in 5G roadmaps.
The internal processes of telecoms operators are usually more aligned to consumer than enterprise segments, and this will need to change as connected devices soon outnumber human subscribers and complex enterprise services are deployed at scale.
A huge shift is the closer integration of network and IT teams, processes, and platforms, as service provisioning becomes more virtualized and new offers are developed with partners in cloud-native environments.
In the true spirit of the festive season, Globacom has introduced “Glo Take a Guess,” a new value-added service designed to entertain, engage, and reward subscribers across Nigeria.
The interactive trivia game lets customers test their knowledge of everyday topics and lifestyle trends for a chance to win airtime, data, and exciting cash prizes.
According to Globacom, subscribers can join the fun by dialing 209992# and choosing from daily, weekly, or monthly plans. Once subscribed, they’ll receive an SMS confirmation with a link to play.
“Participants stand a chance to win fantastic rewards, including airtime, data, and cash prizes, when they answer trivia questions correctly,” the company explained. “It’s a fun and rewarding experience for everyone.”
Subscription costs ₦100 per day, ₦300 per week, or ₦500 per month — with corresponding rewards of ₦10,000 daily, ₦100,000 weekly, and up to ₦1 million monthly. The more subscribers play, the greater their chances of winning.
Globacom added that “Glo Take a Guess” is more than just a game — it’s a lighthearted way to stay entertained and earn rewards while easing the pressures of rising living costs.
It was a display of brilliance and composure as young Nigerians, aged 9 to 15, showcased their spelling prowess in the Enugu regional final of the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee on Saturday, November 1, 2025, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu. After an electrifying one-hour showdown among 20 contestants, seven young spellers earned the right to compete in the grand finale in Lagos.
These excited champions, Nelson Ede Chidubem, Praise Ihionu, Emeka Nwaokocha Samuel, Treasure Oyibosu, Michelle Atanu Ufedo, Munachimso Onyemaechi, and Oyingba Douglas-Naingba, have been presented with their tags for the grand finale and will advance to Lagos, where they will join other regional winners to contend for the national title.
As part of the event, gift vouchers were presented to children and parents through questions and answers, adding a festive touch to the competition.
In his remarks, Honourable Emeka Nelson Nwagbo, Senior Special Adviser on Youth Mobilisation, Enugu West, said, “This initiative has not only encouraged academic excellence but also inspired our young leaders to pursue knowledge with confidence and pride. To the organisers, teachers, parents, and participants, thank you for making this event a success. Your dedication and support have truly made today memorable.
Once again, we say a big thank you to MTN Nigeria. We are happy that the brand is working in line with the vision of the Governor concerning smart schools. We look forward to more collaborations that will continue to empower our kids and youths,” he concluded.
Honourable Paul Ogbewe Okechukwu, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Enugu East, also commended MTN for fostering literacy and healthy competition among teens, and for hosting the first physical regional finals in Enugu.
Addressing the participants, Temilolu Salako, Senior Manager, Segment Marketing, Youth, Women, & Teen, MTN Nigeria, said, “At MTN, we believe in the power of connectivity and technology to transform lives and build a brighter future for everyone. My team and I are here to inspire, support, and guide you on your journey to success. Together, we can achieve great things and make a lasting impact.”
With the seven winners from the Enugu regional final now advancing to the grand finale in Lagos, attention shifts to the next rounds of the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee regional finals, scheduled to hold in Abuja on November 8 and Ibadan on November 15, 2025.
Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has launched an exciting new lottery service — Glo Play Up — designed to blend fun, anticipation, and the prospect of life-changing rewards for its subscribers.
Glo Play Up offers Nigerians a simple yet thrilling opportunity to turn small predictions into multi-million-naira wins. The game invites subscribers to pick a lucky number between 1 and 9 for a chance to strike gold.
To participate, Glo customers simply dial *400# or send their chosen number via SMS to 400. Each entry costs just ₦100, and players can either subscribe daily or play on demand — whenever inspiration strikes.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Globacom described the initiative as more than just a game of chance, but a celebration of hope and possibility.
“We understand the optimism and adventurous spirit of Nigerians,” the company explained. “People love to dream, play, and believe in the power of that one big win. Glo Play Up makes that dream more attainable — it’s easy to play, affordable, and truly rewarding.”
Every Friday at 4 p.m., a weekly draw will take place at Glo’s Head Office, where ten lucky subscribers will each receive ₦1 million. In addition, a grand prize winner will be announced monthly, walking away with an impressive ₦10 million. Winners will be hosted at their nearest Glo Regional Office, and all cash prizes will be credited directly into their MoneyMaster Wallet accounts.
With Glo Play Up, entertainment meets empowerment — reinforcing Globacom’s commitment to innovation, connection, and customer delight. The service not only promises excitement but also the possibility of transforming lives through rewarding experiences.
For more information, visit https://www.gloworld.com/ng/glo-play-up-lottery
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