In 2023, VIAVI's 5G landscape revealed a critical point in global 5G deployment, with 2,497 cities in 92 countries now having commercial 5G networks. By the end of 2023, India claimed to have 10,000 5G cities since the implementation of 5G in 2022. While discussions about 6G have begun in the industry, it is evident that 5G will remain the most scalable network technology in the coming years. In 2024 and beyond, service providers will expand their networks with 5G Standalone to achieve true programmability and differentiated services. The standardization of RedCap devices and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) by the 3GPP organization will enhance 5G capabilities through the Internet of Things (IoT) and satellite connections. Additionally, Open RAN will undergo significant global deployment.
Undoubtedly, the most impactful technological event of 2023 was the emergence of artificial intelligence at the consumer level; in other words, artificial intelligence had its "iPhone moment." With the unleashing of demand for artificial intelligence, the impact on associated industries will be profound: high-performance computing and cloud providers are reconfiguring their service architectures, and semiconductor and system vendors are racing to bring more powerful products to the market.
VIAVI observes a vast attack surface: from cybersecurity threats in networks to vulnerabilities in open and cloud networks, to deception and interference in critical mission positioning, navigation, and timing. Once quantum computers become powerful enough to compromise the public key cryptographic systems used in information technology, it will mark another frontier in technology. Governments, standard organizations, and businesses worldwide have been preparing for this era, researching post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, quantum key distribution systems, and long-term relevant approaches.
In the telecommunications sector, the increasing reliance on mobile communication networks comes with a corresponding cost in energy consumption. A study indicates that data transmission in mobile networks consumes more energy than in fixed networks. Although, on an adjusted basis, the network characteristics of 6G require more energy than 5G, the telecom industry is taking proactive measures, such as energy-saving applications of artificial intelligence in Open RAN. With advancements in the field of photonics, vendors are not only offering sustainable solutions to customers (measured with lower power budgets) but also adopting sustainability measures in their manufacturing processes.