Current tech meeting requirements: Chamber

THERE is no need for businesses to invest and upgrade to 5G technologies with the current economic climate, according to the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI).
Chamber president Rio Fiocco was asked whether business houses were ready to use 5G if it was rolled out.
“There is little requirement for businesses to invest upgrades to their systems that would require them to be ready for 5G at present and especially in the current economic climate,” he said.
“5G isn’t required nor is it necessary in this market where the majority of Port Moresby residents would easily have their personal and professional requirements met by the 3G and 4G technology already deployed.
“5G is about latency to improve automation and in terms of faster speed.
“This is already being achieved via 4G carrier aggregation which can readily meet the needs of the business community.
“The available technology in Port Moresby is sufficient to meet the requirements of the market.
“And as to whether the business community are ready for 5G, probably not – apart from mining companies who would use it to manage and control their mining equipment.
“We are not running robots to clean houses, for instance, or using self-driving vehicles on our roads.”
Fiocco said with anything new, awareness was always important.
“The challenge is to drive connectivity to the rural Papua New Guinea not in Port Moresby,” he said.
“This, in and of itself, is a costly exercise but it will be the largest driver of change for all of Papua New Guinea and should be the focus.”