5G could contribute up to $130 billion to the Asia-Pacific region by 2030

New research from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy shows that 5G technology alone is expected to bring economic value of up to $130 billion to the Asia-Pacific region by 2030.

Photo of the report cover page.

On the afternoon of July 22, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), Singapore released a research report titled "Leveraging 5G to Accelerate AI-led Transformation in ASEAN: Imperatives, Policy Perspectives and Recommendations", outlining how ASEAN can leverage the convergence of 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) to promote transformational economic growth.

The 148-page report is the result of in-depth surveys and interviews with more than 400 experts in eight ASEAN member states. Edited by Professor Vu Minh Khuong - Professor of Practice at LKYSPP, the report provides a comprehensive regional analysis of how ASEAN member states are responding to the challenges and opportunities in adopting 5G and AI, and offers insights into the powerful transformational potential of the convergence of 5G and AI in the region.

Research shows that ASEAN is facing a huge opportunity as 5G technology alone is expected to contribute up to 130 billion USD to the Asia -Pacific economy by 2030.

However, 5G adoption rates still vary widely across the region, ranging from 48.3% in Singapore to less than 1% in some ASEAN member states. Without timely and coordinated action, these disparities could deepen the digital divide and weaken regional competitiveness, leaving ASEAN behind in the global digital transformation race, the report said.

At the report launch ceremony, Professor Vu Minh Khuong emphasized: The convergence between 5G and AI is the infrastructure for innovation, promoting areas such as smart manufacturing, precision agriculture , and autonomous transportation.

Experts shared about the challenges and opportunities in applying 5G and AI in ASEAN within the framework of the report launch ceremony. (Photo: TRUNG HUNG)

Stating that ASEAN cannot afford to wait as the window to assert its regional leadership in smart connectivity is rapidly closing, Prof. Vu Minh Khuong also called for action and the establishment of coordinated strategies to promote regional leadership in smart connectivity to help the region move beyond incremental improvements towards transformational digital leadership.

LKYSPP’s study identifies 10 urgent pillars to accelerate the 5G-AI transformation, with the first focus on establishing coordinated digital leadership to address the fragmentation that is holding back regional progress.

Governments also need to view 5G as a strategic infrastructure for AI, not simply a telecommunications upgrade, and urgently close the skills gap that is preventing businesses from adopting the technology.

To secure ASEAN’s digital future, the report proposes five strategic priorities: Develop national 5G-AI development strategies with a clear roadmap to 2030; Establish a coordinating body in ASEAN member states; Implement inclusive, forward-looking policies to enhance access and innovation; Develop an AI ecosystem through public-private partnerships; Implement robust monitoring mechanisms to track progress and enable roadmap adjustments.

The report highlights that businesses need to be at the heart of driving the economic impact of 5G. There are some notable success stories in the region that demonstrate the transformative power of a well-coordinated strategy, including Singapore’s 5G smart port, which reduced latency by 50%; Thailand’s deployment of an AI-powered disaster management system; and Malaysia’s 82% population coverage through a shared telecommunications network model.

According to the report, private 5G is a key element in the Industry 4.0 transformation, while fixed wireless access (FWA) is an effective solution to bridge the connectivity gap in hard-to-reach areas.

The report also highlights that current 5G deployments are the foundation for the development of 6G by 2030, so current strategic decisions will profoundly affect future competitiveness.

Looking ahead, the study envisions a future where ASEAN leads the way in the 5G-AI era: Businesses going global with smart manufacturing; farmers optimizing productivity with AI data analytics; students in remote areas gaining access to advanced immersive education.

To realize this vision, the report calls for strategic coordination, strong determination and commitment from ASEAN countries towards sustainable digital transformation.

TRUNG HUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/5g-co-the-dong-gop-toi-130-ty-usd-cho-khu-vuc-chau-a-thai-binh-duong-vao-nam-2030-post895522.html