ASIA can we do substantially different ? How can we disrupt the sector ?”
5G ready With the looming roll-out of 5G on the horizon , the telecoms industry is a thrilling yet unpredictable one to be in . Nokia has consistently been readying itself for 5G , chipping away at any obstacles in its path . Whilst Giloth and Jensen recognise the challenges it still poses , they feel that conscious supply network will propel the firm to new heights .
“ The first generations of mobile phone technologies were incremental to each other , but 5G is changing everything ,” notes Giloth . “ It will open the communications sector to hundreds of other industries because it is vital for uses like autonomous driving and robotics .
“ It ’ s a huge technology shift . We have invested heavily in R & D which has helped to set us apart , but you cannot do this just alone , you need to have partners . We have strategic partnerships that are helping us develop the necessary chips and technologies . Without those industry ties it ’ s difficult , and so it takes a much more collaborative approach in many areas . You need to have long-lasting partnerships .
“ The market is changing and our customers are changing , and so our supply chain needs to be changing too ,” he continues . “ Customer segmentation is going to become more important with 5G because today our major customers are the major telecoms operators of the world , the big internet players . In the future , it could be someone like BMW or Tencent . It could be a bank or a hospital . With that , you need to completely rethink your value chains .”
A true telecoms behemoth , Nokia has always left a lasting mark on the sector . The Finnish giant has come a long way since the humble , hardwearing phones it became infamous for and now , as Giloth and Jensen take the ‘ conscious factory ’ to the global stage , it seems that Nokia ’ s historic legacy is beginning a new chapter . www . manufacturingglobal . com 103