Game On! 5G and Cloud Gaming are set to change the game

According to the GSMA, 5.1 Billion people around the world subscribed to mobile services in 2018. The introduction of 5G is driving growth for new services within areas such as IoT and connected devices and is forecasted to provide an uplift to mobile operator revenue, with an expected annual average growth rate of 1.4% between 2018 and 2025.

5G – Getting connected

Here’s all you need to know about 5G:

• 5G will be up to 100 times faster than current 4G technology and it will be more reliable
• By 2021, the number of 5G connections is forecast to reach a figure between 20 Million and 100 Million
• 5G Networks will cover 40% of the world by 2024, handling 25% of all mobile traffic data

5G is set to revamp the services that users consume via mobile.  As 5G comes into its own and these services become more established and sophisticated, so too will carrier billing as a payment method.

Carrier billing’s growth areas are currently ticketing, transport, parking, gaming and ‘edu-tainment’ apps – and these are just the start. 5G is set to bring in many new digital services with rich content, which will be micro billed.

Because it is set to be such a revolutionary technology, 5G is likely to be used to create services and applications that we haven’t even imagined yet. For gamers, 5G is great news as it goes hand in hand with recently rolled out Cloud Gaming.

Game On! 5G Cloud Gaming

It is estimated that the global gaming market in 2019 is worth US$150 Billion, with the Asia Pacific market alone totalling 1.3 Billion gamers.

Cloud gaming is a new way to deliver a high-quality gaming experience to gamers on their device of choice, anytime, anywhere, by streaming from company servers.

With Google Stadia set to launch soon, research has highlighted that:

• Cloud as a platform is the next major battleground for the biggest games companies
• Telco’s are making a strong play for a role in the cloud gaming market, primarily to push new 5G products and services
• The cloud gaming content and cloud gaming PC services markets were worth a combined $387 Million in 2018, forecast to grow to $2.5 Billion in 2023
• Cloud gaming will help telcos to diversify their services and find the right content mix for their customers
• In emerging markets where high-cost consoles or PCs are uncommon, cloud gaming enables these willing consumers to engage with games they could not access otherwise

Level Up: Subscription Gaming

Cloud gaming usually requires a subscription to access content, however it’s not just cloud gaming providers that are offering subscription gaming.

Recently launched Apple Arcade’s subscription service lets users play a selection of more than 100 exclusive premium iPhone and iPad games for a monthly fee, accessible as long as users have an iPhone running iOS 13.  Arcade isn’t designed to compete with cloud-based streaming services like Google Stadia. Through Apple Arcade, games are downloaded to the device and can then be played offline, while in Stadia, games are streamed from company servers.

With monthly subscription fees, or the option for a family subscription, carrier billing can be used as a convenient method of payment. Apple have rolled out carrier billing in more than 38 countries, allowing all digital purchases to be conveniently charged to your monthly mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid amount.

Game Boost: Purchasing In-App Game Content

It’s not just subscription services that direct carrier billing can be used for. Quick and easy payments can be made for in-app purchases, such as game boosts, game hints, bonus levels, extra accessories and unlocking game upgrades to premium versions.

Contact SLA Digital today to discuss adding carrier billing as a payment method.