Innovation Platforms: A New Perspective to Unleash the 5G Potential for MNOs

Abstract

The current economic situation of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) is far from flourishing, as the entire telecommunications industry faces financial challenges. Meanwhile, the rapid development of emerging technologies, particularly 5G, presents new strategic opportunities. Unlike previous connectivity generations, 5G is not merely an enhancement but a foundational enabler for application services, especially in the enterprise sector. Beyond its intrinsic nature as a connectivity infrastructure, 5G may serve as an innovation platform to foster the development of new business models and services. This technological shift offers MNOs a unique chance to reposition themselves within the mobile telecommunications ecosystem, avoiding the risk of becoming “commodity providers”, limited to selling connectivity per se. This study explores how MNOs can leverage 5G as an innovation platform to transform their business models and regain a central role in the telecommunications sector. Through a multiple-case study in the Italian market, findings show that MNOs are gradually transitioning from basic connectivity providers to platform orchestrators focused on service integration and value co-creation. The study advances current literature by framing 5G as an innovation platform and offers practical insights into platform governance and strategic repositioning.