Operators should proactively decide their role in gaming before the next-generation gaming ecosystem matures in order to maximise the value that they can extract from it. Operators can play a variety of roles in the mobile cloud value chain, unlocking B2C and B2B revenue opportunities (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Roles that operators can play in mobile gaming
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Source: Analysys Mason
Sales channel partner. Operators will add value to their core consumer proposition by offering gaming as a value-added service, or reselling third-party or own-branded services. Operators’ direct relationship with consumers and control of the network could enable them to become gaming service providers, offering own-branded consumer products or reselling third-party services and devices. In the next 2 to 3 years, they can use those services to educate consumers about, and encourage them to migrate to, 5G services.
Service aggregator. In the longer-term, operators could offer services via their own consumer platform and infrastructure via a service aggregator play. Operators have a long experience of aggregating and distributing content, particularly video, and of selling services through a subscription model. This is something that third-party gaming service providers value and will look for in a partnership.
Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provider. Operators should use the growth of 5G-enabled gaming to target the B2B opportunity and to build a mobile edge computing (MEC) proposition, which they can do in partnership with other operators and/or public cloud providers. As next-generation gaming ecosystems mature, operators should use their MEC, end-to-end network management capabilities to monetise the gaming service providers’ demand for QoS assurance, strengthening the go-to-market partner role. Operators can use gaming as the first large-scale application to build MEC capabilities.
Ecosystem development partner. Operators can partner with gaming service providers to accelerate the development of the next-generation gaming ecosystem, new devices, XR content and supporting infrastructure as well as offering them a go-to-market partner that can educate consumers on the value of 5G and the gaming experience that it can offer. Operators can choose one or more roles in this segment, depending on their profile, long-term strategy and appetite for risk.