As enterprises accelerate digital transformation, connectivity is no longer just an enabler, it is becoming a strategic lever. The ability to control networks, manage data flows, and ensure performance at scale is increasingly shaping how organisations compete in an AI-driven, real-time world. Against this backdrop, private 5G is emerging not simply as a technology upgrade, but as a foundational shift in how enterprises design and own their digital infrastructure.
Speaking with iTNews Asia, Parm Sandhu, Group Vice President, Enterprise 5G Products and Services, NTT DATA, points out how this shift is now redefining connectivity and why strategic control of networks is fast becoming a critical competitive advantage.
According to him, three forces are converging to accelerate private 5G adoption - proven ROI, a mature device ecosystem, and AI moving to the edge. This convergence is fundamentally reshaping how enterprises view their networks.
“Private 5G is no longer standalone, it is a catalyst for data-driven operations at scale,” he said.
Enterprises are no longer experimenting. The industry has moved beyond pilots into multi-site, production-grade deployments. Global manufacturers and food processing companies are now rolling out private 5G across their facilities, supporting connected workers, robotics, and real-time analytics.
“These aren’t experiments, they are operational infrastructure,” Sandhu emphasised.
Edge AI is driving the urgency
While operational efficiency and security remain key drivers, Sandhu pointed to a clear shift toward AI at the edge.
“All three matter, but increasingly, edge AI is driving urgency. It enables real-time decision-making for predictive maintenance, safety monitoring, and dynamic operations,” he added.
He emphasised that such capabilities depend on a network that can securely handle massive data volumes. “That’s why private 5G is becoming the default foundation.”
Enterprises, he noted, are increasingly outcome-focused. “The right approach is to lead with use cases… private 5G is the connectivity layer that ties it all together.”
Sandhu is clear that private 5G is not just an upgrade but a structural shift and a new class of enterprise connectivity.
Unlike Wi-Fi, which operates on shared spectrum with variable performance, private 5G offers licensed, interference-free spectrum, seamless mobility and capabilities such as network slicing.
“The economics are shifting too,” he added, citing a deployment at Roularta Media Group where a private 5G network required roughly a quarter of the radio hardware compared to Wi-Fi while delivering stronger performance.
Misconceptions slowing adoption
Despite growing momentum, adoption remains uneven due to persistent misconceptions.
“Enterprises often assume complexity, high cost and integration challenges or spectrum issues,” Sandhu explained.
However, fully managed Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) models are closing the skills gap, while real-world deployments show private 5G can be more economical than Wi-Fi. Integration with existing IT and security frameworks is also increasingly seamless, with spectrum managed through experienced partners.
“What’s changing is that enterprises are now tying deployments directly to business outcomes and that’s where momentum is accelerating,” he said.
For CIOs evaluating private 5G, Sandhu advised a shift in mindset. “Start with one question: ‘What business outcomes do I need my network to enable?’” he said.
He cited deployments in Brownsville, Texas, where private 5G enabled synchronised traffic management and improved public safety, alongside manufacturing use cases such as AI-driven robotics.
“Measure value through operational impact, not just network performance,” he added.
Network ownership as strategic leverage
Sandhu believes many enterprises still underestimate the long-term value of owning network infrastructure. Private 5G gives organisations direct control over data, performance, and security capabilities that are increasingly vital in an AI-driven economy.
“Those who act early are turning connectivity into a competitive edge,” he added.
He also emphasised that security is another key differentiator.
Private 5G is secure by design. This allows enterprises to isolate sensitive data, prioritise critical applications, and enforce consistent security frameworks improving both performance and threat detection.
- Parm Sandhu, Group Vice President, Enterprise 5G Products and Services, NTT DATA
As enterprises accelerate toward AI-driven operations, the strategic importance of network ownership is becoming undeniable. Looking ahead, Sandhu sees private 5G becoming a standard enterprise infrastructure layer within the next five years.
“This shift will be driven by ecosystem partnerships that simplify deployment and scale,” he said, pointing to collaborations combining private 5G and edge platforms with full-stack enterprise services.
“The direction is clear: private 5G is moving from niche to necessary, and becoming the backbone of intelligent, data-driven enterprises.”
