NTT exec: ‘We used to say software is eating hardware; I think AI will eat software’
This week, during Mobile World Congress Las Vegas, NTT and Qualcomm announced a partnership focused on bolstering the 5G device ecosystem to accelerate the global private 5G market, which the companies claim is critical for furthering AI applications at the edge.
“Devices, specifically around private networks and private 5G, aren’t quite there yet,” Shahid Ahmed, group EVP of new ventures and innovation at NTT, told RCR Wireless News. “So, we look at this partnership as more devices equals more use cases; more use cases equals better business cases; better business cases equals better adoption. That was the equation we were trying to solve for.” He added that by partnering with Qualcomm, NTT was also able to “ease the economics” for enterprises looking to utilize more 5G-enabled devices, thanks to the chip company’s leadership in application-specific semiconductors and 5G chipsets.
The pair are targeting devices such as push-to-talk devices, augmented reality headsets, computer vision cameras and sensors at the edge across the manufacturing, automotive, logistics and other industries.
In a press release, Mark Bidinger, the president of commercial & industrial segments & channels at Schneider Electric, commented on the criticality of having more 5G-enabled in order to shape a “more digital and sustainable future.”
“It forms the backbone of many tech advancements that can improve efficiency and sustainability through efficient resource management, energy conservation, and are pivotal for innovation across various industries,” continued to Bidinger. “NTT’s collaboration with Qualcomm represents a significant step forward in advancing private 5G adoption and meeting the unique demands of the Internet of Things and Machine Learning.”
Additionally, NTT is providing a managed device as a service as part of its end-to-end Edge as a Service offering for things like tablets, cameras and sensors. This, said the company, will make it easier for customers to access, upgrade and recycle 5G and edge devices and simplify device lifecycle management as well as reduce IT maintenance and costs.
The partnership between NTT and Qualcomm is also positioned to spur AI adoption at the edge. The silicon in Qualcomm’s 5G chipsets includes built-in AI and machine learning models, while NTT’s Edge as a Service will enable enterprises to deploy AI applications around workplace safety, optimization and security.
“We used to say software is eating hardware; I think AI will eat software. It’s coming and when it does it will hit the factory floor very hard,” Ahmed said. However, he added that for NTT, establishing the connectivity backbone is still the fundamental aspect to any digital transformation.
“For us, private networks, edge computing and IoT all being brought together is the fundamental, lowest common denominator for any digital automation initiative a company is taking,” he emphasized. “AI is going to be there, but again, it’s all about the connectivity.”
