Supercharge your business with 5G technology

See, do and achieve more

AU$230bn

5G contribution to local economic growth by 2030 (cumulative)
US$1.3tr

forecasted addition to world gross domestic product
22.8mil

Number of jobs created by 5G across the globe

5G is a reality. Lightning-fast network connections are rolling into select cities now, and the new technology’s impact is likely to be pervasive within five years.

For business, 5G is about more than just mobile speeds. New levels of connection will amplify the insight leaders receive from connected technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT).

For companies seeking to kick-start growth, 5G offers a route to reinvent industries and open up opportunities.

“With its super-low latency, security and reliability, reduced energy usage and massive connectivity, 5G will overhaul the way we live, work and play - and for businesses wanting to reap the rewards and make possible what was once unimaginable, the time to prepare is now.”

The local economic impact of 5G

We estimate that 5G technology is set to impact the local economy by a cumulative AUD$230bn over the next decade. 5G, combined with other emerging technologies, will create a vast array of new experiences leading to a positive impact on society as a whole.

Super charged healthcare

Predicted as the largest beneficiary of 5G, with the technology earmarked to improve efficiencies and productivity in hospitals by improving the utilisation of medical devices and patient beds, enhancing the functionality of telemedicine and enabling the application of AI to a range of sensor data for preventative care, remote diagnosis and more seamless patient handovers. This will contribute to better health outcomes, as 5G efficiencies add US$9bn to the AU GDP in 2030 (cumulative US$34bn) based on the following 5 use cases:

Continuous and real-time communication between patient and doctors
Driving fewer and shorter hospital stays
Mobile health platforms powered by 5G
Improved experience and efficacy of telemedicine
Drone-transported medical equipment and therapies

A new era of smart utilities

Smart utilities management is on the rise—and 5G is on board to deliver value in the form of monitoring, tracking and automation. As utilities shift towards renewable energy and digitisation of the grid, 5G's ability to connect large numbers of devices and sensors will further transform the sector. This will contribute US$4bn to the AU GDP in 2030 (cumulative US$16bn) based on the following 3 use cases:

Enhanced smart meters and smart grids
Sensors and analytics for better waste management and reduced solid waste
Sensors and analytics on water networks to reduce water leakage

Enhanced era of consumer and media applications

As the adoption of 5G enabled consumer devices increases, consumer retail and media companies will have the opportunity to use the technology to capture and enhance consumer interactions. From a retail perspective, this will mean more targeted and tailored marketing campaigns as well as the incorporation of augmented and virtual reality to boost shopping experiences. The findings show 5G will also offer a more immersive gaming experience for online entertainment as well as better and faster and more interactive access to online streaming content. Adoption of 5G with other technologies, will further boost the sector and the economy by contributing $US4bn to the AU GDP by 2030 (cumulative US$16bn) based on the following 2 use cases:

Real-time marketing and customer relations
Delivery of online gaming and OTT media

Building connected ecosystems in industrial manufacturing

5G has the potential to build connected ecosystems in the manufacturing industry. By replacing cables with wireless technology, this enables connectivity across on-premise machinery giving manufacturers a far greater degree of flexibility. By paving the way to more adaptable and responsive production lines that can be reconfigured faster and with less effort, 5G will make it easier to customise products to meet specific requirements at higher quality, scale and speed, and at lower cost—including labour costs. This will contribute US$2bn to AU GDP in 2030 (cumulative US$8bn) based on the following use case:

Autonomous robots and vehicles in industrial settings

Interested to find out more about how 5G will affect the global and local economy and industries?

Download our report on the global economic impact of 5G and try out our data explorer tool to get up to speed on the quantifiable impact of 5G through 2030.

Download our report on the global economic impact of 5G

How we can help

PwC can unlock opportunities.

We help companies combine technology and strategy to commercialise and thrive through change, and prepare for the transformative opportunities created by 5G.

Together, we can strengthen connections, temper risk and reimagine what’s possible.