Share
Light Reading Podcasts
Omdia on the rocky road to private 5G for manufacturing
Service providers have been banging on about the benefits of private 5G networks for the manufacturing industry, but that vertical has been reluctant to move forward with 5G technologies.
In this podcast interview, Omdia analysts Pablo Tomasi and Anna Ahrens explain why the manufacturing industry, oft-cited as fertile ground for 5G, hasn't been that excited about private 5G network adoption.
"[5G] has a large promise of ultra-reliable, low-latency communications, which is actually a basic requirement of industrial communication," said Ahrens. "But what no one counted on or what no one expected is that it is not ready to go technology, it is a technology which still needs to be evolved."
In addition, Ahrens and Tomasi dive into their joint research report, Demystifying Private 5G in Manufacturing: How to Seize a New Opportunity, and explain what can be done about the mismatch of expectations for 5G between the telcos and manufacturing sector.
You can download a lightly edited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few more things covered in this interview:
- Why the manufacturing industry is hesitant about adopting 5G (02:45)
- The reality of ROI for 5G (04:01)
- Why the manufacturing sector is resistant to disruptive technologies (06:07)
- Why the manufacturing industry is slow to adopt new technologies provided by telcos (08:11)
- What service providers believe is the advantage of 5G for the manufacturing industry (10:44)
- Near term opportunities for service providers in the manufacturing sector (14:24)
- Impetus behind Ahrens and Tomasi deciding to team up on their joint report (17:19)
- How telcos can better develop 5G services that enterprises need (19:16)
More episodes
View all episodes
Wireless Infrastructure Association CEO braces for the AI and 6G era
34:31||Season 1Patrick Halley, the president and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, discusses the top trends in the industry and how AI and 6G are poised to come together.
The Divide: Blair Levin on 30 years of the Telecom Act and what must come next
34:59||Season 6Former FCC official Blair Levin joins the podcast to discuss BEAD program updates and how the federal government can best prepare for the future of connectivity and AI as we mark 30 years of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
The Divide: Carol Mattey on BEAD hope and hysteria, and stalled USF reform
38:34||Season 6This week: Former FCC official Carol Mattey joins the podcast to discuss the outcome of states' revised BEAD plans and what's next, as well as why she's not optimistic the Universal Service Fund will be reformed anytime soon.
Cable shows signs of improvement, but is it out of the woods?
29:24||Season 1New Street Research's Vikash Harlalka joins the podcast to discuss cable's latest round of financial results, including the improvements and the significant challenges the industry will continue to face in 2026.
The Divide: IEEE's David Witkowski on broadband progress and the AI impact
34:34||Season 6This week: IEEE Senior Member David Witkowski joins the podcast to catch up on topics impacting the connectivity landscape – from the BEAD program to the evolution of FWA and satellite broadband to the growth of AI.
From Risk to Opportunity: How Network Operators Can Leverage Resilient Positioning, Navigation & Timing
28:02||Season 5With GPS supporting so much of the U.S’s critical infrastructure, it is a known single point of risk. NextNav’s Mariam Sorond joins Light Reading to discuss how operators whose own networks are vulnerable to GPS attacks, can help solve the national security challenge with GPS, secure their networks with a resilient terrestrial timing back-up and open up opportunities by offering 3D PNT capabilities. Sponsored by NextNav.
Is cable approaching a tipping point on PON?
36:49||Season 1Cable ops are going with FTTP in most greenfield buildouts, but a new report from cable industry vet Jay Rolls suggests that some operators are pivoting to fiber in legacy HFC areas, too.
The Divide: Shirley Bloomfield on rural broadband progress, BEAD's 'bargain' and USF
28:27||Season 6As she prepares to retire as CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, Shirley Bloomfield joins us to discuss progress on connecting the rural US, how BEAD changes will impact those communities, and the need to preserve USF.
AT&T's copper shutdown project takes 'wireless-first' approach
38:32||Season 1Amid more FCC approvals for its copper shutdown plan, AT&T is initially targeting customer service migrations with wireless connections ahead of future fiber builds, says AT&T's Susan Johnson.