In 2020, communications reinvented the way we team up, learn and work. With large proportions

of the world’s population confined to their homes, several years’ worth of digital transformation has taken place over a matter of weeks. This rapid switch to digital technologies was noticed in even

the most technologically resistant industries, among small and medium businesses and across all

countries, developing and advanced.

This report concludes the 5G Outlook Series of publications in 2020 that have been analysing the

role of 5G in the short, medium and long term in the context of the pandemic and the economic crisis. Five key takeaways have emerged from interviews and workshops:

1、In the 2020s and beyond a robust 5G infrastructure will be foundational to both inclusive economic growth and competitiveness

2、5G has the potential to democratize computing, helping to close digital divides

3、Public-private partnerships are essential to success and broad-based gains

4、To benefit from 5G, countries urgently require a clear strategy for cross-industry investment and policy

5、5G is a general-purpose technology enabler, unlocking the potential of cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing