NTT Partners with Qualcomm to Enhance 5G Device Ecosystem and Foster Private 5G Adoption

On Friday, NTT Ltd, a provider of IT infrastructure and services, announced a strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies. This collaboration is geared towards investing in and advancing the development of the 5G device ecosystem, which plays a critical role in enabling AI capabilities at the edge. The multi-year initiative is anticipated to drive innovation for global enterprise clients and promote widespread adoption of private 5G solutions.

The focus of this partnership will be on creating 5G-enabled devices designed for diverse applications, including push-to-talk communications, augmented reality headsets, computer vision cameras, and edge sensors across various sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, and logistics.

By merging Qualcomm’s expertise in application-specific semiconductors and 5G chipsets with NTT’s proficiency in private 5G, this collaboration aims to enhance the 5G ecosystem and improve AI processing capabilities at the edge. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), the market for private 5G is projected to surpass $8 billion by 2026.

As part of NTT’s comprehensive Edge as a Service offering, a new service called Device as a Service is being introduced. This service is designed to facilitate easier access, upgrading, and recycling of 5G and edge devices for customers, which will help streamline device lifecycle management and reduce IT maintenance costs.

Shahid Ahmed, Executive Vice President of New Ventures & Innovation at NTT Ltd, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership is exciting because we are addressing the needs we’ve heard from our clients. Together with Qualcomm Technologies, we will enhance the 5G ecosystem by delivering the devices our customers need in a straightforward and cost-effective manner.”

The upcoming 5G-ready devices will utilize Qualcomm Technologies’ 5G chipsets integrated with AI models, allowing for improved AI functionalities at the edge. These capabilities will include advanced image recognition tasks, enabling functionalities such as counting items, identifying object features, and verifying that workers are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

Mark Bidinger, President of Commercial & Industrial Segments & Channels at Schneider Electric, commented that “NTT’s collaboration with Qualcomm marks a significant advancement in promoting private 5G adoption and addressing the specific requirements of the Internet of Things and Machine Learning.”