Abstract:

Since the 5G commercial network was first launched by T-mobile US in 2018, 5G networks are rapidly expanding worldwide, transforming connectivity and communication. Since 2019, Australia has made significant investments in developing and deploying 5G technology. Australian businesses from various industry sectors, such as mining, manufacturing, and logistics, are leveraging the high-speed and low-latency capabilities of 5G to enhance productivity, optimize operations, and enable new innovations. While there are many studies on the 5G adoption in industry transformation, this research tries to investigate the general public and SMEs' perceptions towards 5G uptake by conducting a questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews. The findings, including current use cases and perceived issues, are particularly useful to a wide range of stakeholders, such as 5G application developers, infrastructure providers, and government policymakers.