G2 on 5G Podcast Episode 226 - Standalone Edition - NTT DATA's Shahid Ahmed - Private 5G And More

Welcome and Introduction

- Will Townsend welcomes Shahid Ahmed, who leads NTT DATA's private 5G initiatives

- Discussion of Shahid's role in New Ventures and Innovation at NTT DATA

Private 5G Momentum in 2025

- Identification of 2025 as a pivotal year for private cellular and 5G adoption

- Three major forces driving demand: device availability, spectrum allocation, and improved economics

Device Ecosystem Development

- Progress in natively supported 5G devices for enterprises

- Impact on deployment timelines and customer readiness

Spectrum Availability Challenges

- Regulatory hurdles in spectrum allocation across different geographies

- Recent improvements in spectrum accessibility for enterprises

Economics of Private 5G

- Shift towards "Wi-Fi economics" for private 5G deployments

- Cost comparisons between Wi-Fi and 5G implementations in large-scale environments

Edge AI and Agentic AI in 5G Networks

- Distinction between Edge AI and large language models

- Applications of Edge AI in manufacturing and autonomous systems

- Role of Agentic AI in business process workflows

Factory of the Future Concept

- NTT DATA's focus on enabling advanced manufacturing environments

- Integration of robotics, automation, and connectivity in dark factories

Convergence of Wireless Technologies

- Emerging integration of 5G and Wi-Fi on single radio platforms

- Implications for seamless connectivity in various settings

Security Challenges in Network Transformation

- Increased security concerns with automation and IP network integration

- Ongoing nature of security challenges in modernized infrastructures

NTT DATA's Comprehensive Service Offerings

- NTT DATA's position as a major data center service provider

- Private 5G as an entry point for broader network architecture transformation

Partnership Highlights

- Collaboration with Cisco, including ESIM integration in Meraki and Catalyst products

- Simplification of device provisioning and configuration processes