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Up to speed: how 5G is changing the ways we do business
We hear from Three Business on the revolutionary yet accessible ways in which 5G connectivity can help firms of all sizes thrive
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Just a few years ago most British businesses were rooted in one place – tied to a physical office, for example, or only able to take payments through a fixed till.
But a new breed of business is using technology to create a more mobile way of working, with mobile payments and remote working now becoming a normal way of life.
Research by Ofcom found that in 2016, 96 per cent of businesses used landlines. By 2022, that figure had dropped to 51 per cent.
Among businesses with 50-249 employees, 77 per cent now use mobile for business purposes, the research found.
Meanwhile, 5G connections are enabling businesses to cut costs, set up more quickly and get to work without forking out huge sums on a physical office.
Business leaders and decision makers already realise how critical connectivity is to business success, with 36 per cent saying they believe they would perform better with a better connection, according to research by Three and YouGov.
5G is also fast-tracking new ways to work, which would have previously been impossible – from ‘smart cities’ where connectivity is crucial to controlling traffic and allowing autonomous cars, to hi-tech farms where technology allows farmers to automate their tools and increase productivity.
But 5G technologies are also changing the way businesses work across all industries – from big banks to retailers and sole traders such as plumbers. Connectivity is bringing benefits to everyone.
As Snehal Bhudia, director of propositions and marketing at Three Business, says: “5G isn't just highly futuristic or exclusive to large corporations who are investing in highly complex technology. It’s a reality for smaller businesses and on an everyday basis too.”
‘‘Technology used to be anchored in the premises,” says Bhudia. “There was a mobility revolution here even before the pandemic – but the cost-of-living crisis has made it essential.”
That mobility revolution is translating into measurable shifts in the way small businesses use technology, research has shown.
Why 5G is changing the business landscape
5G is reshaping the way businesses in the UK work. The key difference with 5G is that it’s up to 10 times faster than 4G, and can enable many more connections. So, this means futuristic technologies such as ‘the Internet of things’ are becoming a reality.
So far, the technology has enabled new ways of working and boosted efficiency across businesses of all sectors and sizes. For example, 5G speeds enable 4k video conferencing and near-instant downloads, so businesses can collaborate seamlessly without connecting to a fixed Wi-Fi or cable. There are also drastic changes in the way retailers take payments. Stores can now use 5G Wi-Fi connectivity for roaming POS technology, enabling retail teams to take payment throughout their stores – not just at the checkout.
With 5G as the primary connection to customers and other businesses, it is a far more affordable solution for small enterprises to not only set themselves up but increase their workforce’s efficiency and deliver excellent customer experiences.
The benefits of choosing 5G stretch across many different use cases and across different sectors. One cafe in Birmingham opted to use Three 5G Business Broadband, instead of fixed fibre broadband, for starting up their business. It helped them to set up quickly and cut costs as they established their place on Birmingham’s bustling High Street. The tech allows them to take orders and payments and lets their customers use the fast Wi-Fi .5G broadband has been ideal for them – it’s now their permanent broadband solution.
5G coverage is growing across the UK and is even being used by emergency services to help to save lives. One mountain rescue charity in Britain relies on Three’s 5G SIMs to power their investigative drones which fly above the scenes of potential rescues, capturing vital information before human rescuers are sent in.
The mobile payment revolution
Mobile payment enables businesses to switch to working digitally, and has changed the landscape completely for many sole traders, as well as for bigger businesses.
From plumbers who can take payments on the go to retailers who set up ‘pop-up shops’, connectivity has enabled both new SMEs and more established players to break down barriers and expand with new locations.
![Mobile business payments](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/three-business/business-success/three-mobile-buss-1-payment-revolution-credit-getty.jpg?imwidth=350)
Easy-to-use mobile payment services have made it possible for businesses of all sizes to accept payments online and instantly in-person. There’s no longer the risk of delayed payments or wasting time on admin, and it’s all enabled by fast 4G and 5G connections.
Research this year suggested that 90 per cent of UK SMEs now accept contactless payment – the highest figure of any country in Europe.
“Everyone seems to have a payment terminal in their pocket,” Bhudia says. “That’s only because they can rely on the connectivity.”
As the use of cash plunges, being able to take mobile payments is now crucial in many sectors, especially for charity donations. As potential donors carry less cash, this has a direct impact on funds raised for vital charity work. Mobile connectivity is helping to counteract this decline. For example, fundraisers are now able to use their SIM-powered tablets to raise donations through engaging local communities door-to-door, setting up direct debits on their devices through secure online portals, as well as contactless payment devices.
Video conferencing
Video conferencing is continuing to be a game-changing technology for businesses, from banks down to sole traders. Although the explosion of video conferencing took place throughout Covid, businesses are now stretching it further with more on-the-go usage, taking advantage of powerful 5G connections.
Video calls are offering a way for customers to feel in touch without having to physically visit a premises, and for business owners to give their customers the ultimate transparency to their services and how they’re working.
![Mechanic on video call](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/three-business/business-success/three-mobile-buss-3-mechanic-credit-getty.jpg?imwidth=350)
This can have a huge impact in terms of trust, whether it’s a plumber demonstrating their work or a car mechanic showing you what has to be done for your vehicle to pass its MOT.
“When the mechanic calls me to say there’s a problem with my car, and it’s going to cost lots of money, I would have had to rely solely on what they were telling me,” Says Bhudia. “But now he’s on a video call and shows me what’s wrong.”
Ten years ago, apps like FaceTime were a novelty, but now many large businesses are offering video calls as an everyday service. Large brands can deliver virtual consultations and meetings where customers no longer have to head to their local store – it’s right at their fingertips.
Usage surged during the pandemic, according to statistics submitted to the Government, with 82 per cent of small business employees using video conferencing to stay in touch with suppliers, colleagues and customers.
As 5G grows, so do its benefits to businesses of all sizes. They are able to flex and adapt to the needs of their employees and customers, offering the latest technology to support their work on the go.
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