Mobile World Live (MWL) presents its top three highlights of the week, featuring Elon Musk’s criticism of Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani over lobbying for a satellite spectrum auction, the optimistic outlook of Nokia and Ericsson despite sluggish mobile network sales, and insights on enterprise connectivity benefits discussed at MWC Las Vegas.
Musk and Ambani Clash Over Spectrum Allocation
What happened: Dubbed a “battle of the billionaires” by Indian media, Elon Musk criticized Mukesh Ambani for lobbying the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to hold a satellite spectrum auction, labeling the effort as “unprecedented.”
Why it matters: Reliance Jio contended that allocating spectrum to foreign players would create an uneven playing field, stating in a letter to TRAI that the regulator’s position advocating administrative spectrum allocation lacks basis. In response, Musk argued that the airwaves have long been “designated by the ITU as shared spectrum for satellites.”
According to Reuters, Telecoms Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced plans to proceed with administrative spectrum assignments “in accordance with Indian laws” and global trends, raising the possibility of a price war between Musk’s Starlink and Ambani’s Reliance.
A source close to the matter revealed that Reliance Jio is concerned about potentially losing subscribers to Musk after investing $19 billion in a mobile auction in 2022. Gareth Owen, an associate director at Counterpoint Research, remarked, “Terrestrial networks will always be less expensive, and businesses will never completely switch to satellite.”
Nokia and Ericsson Remain Positive Amid Network Challenges
What happened: Leaders from Nokia and Ericsson expressed cautious optimism regarding their businesses despite challenging market conditions, with Nokia attributing a decline in mobile network sales to ongoing difficulties in the market.
Why it matters: Nokia reported an 8 percent decrease in revenue in Q3, a drop that CEO Pekka Lundmark attributed to “challenging market dynamics.” However, the company expects a market recovery, having secured several key contracts, including one with Vodafone Idea.
Conversely, Ericsson’s CEO Borje Ekholm anticipates “further near-term sales pressure” in its enterprise networks division, stating that the company has enhanced its private 5G offerings to improve this unit’s performance.
Key Takeaways from MWC Las Vegas on Enterprise Connectivity
What happened: MWL summarized important highlights regarding enterprise 5G from MWC Las Vegas, featuring insights from Qualcomm, Salesforce, Nokia, and T-Mobile US.
Why it matters: During the event, the GSMA outlined four objectives for the mobile industry to harness the potential of 5G in enterprise applications, a segment that GSMA’s CMO Lara Dewar emphasized will be crucial for future growth.
Notably, T-Mobile US Business Group SVP Mishka Dehghan remarked that 5G applications in enterprise IT are gaining substantial momentum among small- to medium-sized businesses, which have shown a strong interest in customized services.
Additionally, Jeff Pittman, head of the enterprise market unit for Mobile Networks at Nokia, highlighted the importance of collaboration among vendors, operators, and system integrators to facilitate 5G deployment for businesses, noting that many enterprises lack the resources to navigate emerging services effectively.
