Hrvoje Benčić: 5G SA – foundation for a new era of digital transformation
July 11, 2025
In the ICTbusinessTV report from the Mobile World Congress, Hrvoje Benčić, member of the Management Board and Director of Customer Solutions and Services at Ericsson Nikola Tesla, spoke about the development of 5G networks and the arrival of 5G Standalone, which is important because it offers network slicing, that, for example, enables a special layer for mission critical infrastructure. This dedicated layer provides seamless communication by prioritizing emergencies.
The introduction of Standalone (SA) 5G networks marks a key milestone in the development of mobile technologies. Unlike previous generations that relied on 4G infrastructure, SA networks operate completely independently, making way for new levels of performance and reliability.
These networks enable extremely low latency, mass device connectivity and advanced functionalities such as network slicing, which enables the creation of virtual networks adapted to industry-specific needs. This is exactly where the potential for Mission Critical Networks (MCN) comes into play as these solutions ensure high availability, security and reliability for applications in which every millisecond counts.
SA 5G networks form the foundation for smart factories, predictive maintenance, automation, a safer work environment, and the development of smart cities and advanced public services. The new core network enables optimal spectrum utilization, faster data transmission and a higher level of security, especially in demanding and dynamic environments.
For end users, this means faster internet access, better cloud experience and more advanced digital services. For the industry, this means a new platform for innovation, from industrial IoT and autonomous vehicles to mission critical communications systems in healthcare, energy and public safety.
Watch the video