5G is happening, and it is happening now – taking off faster than any mobile technology that came before it. By as early as 2023, it is predicted that 5G will become mainstream, reaching a billion connections worldwide. Of course, for operators, this represents the crux of the challenge. 5G does not exist on an island; as the demand for seamless international connectivity continues to grow, roaming and interworking must be a core consideration.

To respond quickly with 5G-based services that are reliable, secure and offer consistent quality of service anywhere in the world, operators need to leverage a global IPX network that will simplify the roaming model, improve the customer experience and support better monetisation.

Meeting the data demand, worldwide

The proliferation of IoT, combined with a huge surge in data roaming, are key drivers for 5G; in 2018 alone, it was revealed by BICS that demand for data roaming increased by 95%, while it is predicted that the total number of cellular M2M connections will reach up to two billion in 2020. For 5G-based services to succeed, subscribers and M2M devices alike require the same high-speed, ultra-low latency access, regardless of where in the world they are travelling.

Above all, operators need 5G interworking and roaming that is high-quality and efficient if they are to deliver on this quality of experience. The public internet is simply not a viable option for operators as a result of high latency and low security measures when compared to mobile networks, which will inevitably impact subscribers as a result. Complicated bilateral models are another huge problem, requiring numerous technical and commercial agreements between parties across every country, which simply cannot be managed sustainably.

For operators to effectively implement 5G, the extended IPX ecosystem is essential for synergy and security of all parties in the value chain.

Building the IPX of tomorrow

IPX adoption for 5G roaming is accelerating at pace, offering unrivalled international roaming coverage and quality for operators looking to add value to their propositions with new future-ready solutions. IPX is already serving operators around the world with 3G and 4G roaming services. By leveraging the infrastructure of the IPX ecosystem, 5G non-standalone roaming can be easily implemented and managed.

Combined, IPX offers a number of advantages to operators looking to optimise their network infrastructure for 5G-based services while monetising their investments; from leveraging 4G assets for fast and cost-effective deployment, to access to IPX hubs and proxies for direct connections with global operators, the IPX ecosystem is a simple, secure and scalable solution for consistent quality and global connectivity.

Tomorrow’s IPX, today

With more than 50% of global data traffic exchanged over its global IPX network, BICS offers unrivalled roaming coverage and quality to operators around the world. BICS’ IPX platform allows service providers to exchange IP traffic bilaterally to any IPX destination, through a single interconnection which manages service quality. Operators are able to establish roaming and inter-working agreements with more than 610 members on the network. The platform allows customers to offer their subscribers high quality data roaming with other MNOs, MVNOs, MVNEs, fixed network operators, ISPs and ASPs globally.

While 5G rollout is complex, implementing roaming and interconnect is simple using IPX. Get in touch to find out more about how the BICS IPX network can enhance implementation of your 5G-based services.