深度-博思艾伦咨询-数字时代5G岩土工程竞赛（英文）-2021.6-24页_3mb

5G and Geopolitical Competition: A U.S. Perspective

Core Content

The document outlines the strategic importance of 5G technology in shaping global power dynamics and highlights the need for the United States to maintain its technological leadership in the 2020s. It introduces the Booz Allen 5G Power Framework, a comprehensive tool to evaluate and compare countries' capabilities in the 5G domain. The framework assesses 14 key capabilities across five stages: Enable, Develop, Deploy, Adopt, and Employ. The report evaluates 10 countries and identifies the U.S. and China as the leading contenders in the 5G race, with the U.S. having a clear opportunity to catch up through strategic investments and policies.

Main Viewpoints

• 5G as a Global Power Tool: 5G technology has the potential to significantly enhance a country's economic, military, and societal capabilities. It can drive innovation, improve productivity, and enable new services, while also offering a means to project power through governance, diplomacy, and security.

• 5G's Multi-Layered Impact: The development and adoption of 5G are not isolated events but part of a broader, interconnected process. The U.S. must focus on building and securing a national 5G ecosystem by strengthening its foundational capabilities and fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academia.

• U.S. and China Lead the 5G Race: While both countries are ahead in the race, the U.S. has a chance to close the gap by enhancing its R&D investments, human capital development, and industry partnerships. China's success is attributed to its centralized strategy, large workforce, and significant R&D funding.

• Global IT Workforce Deficit: A critical challenge is the shortage of skilled software engineers and security experts globally. The U.S. is not immune, with a projected shortage of over 1.2 million engineers by 2026. This gap could hinder the U.S. ability to fully capitalize on 5G's potential.

• Strategic Recommendations: The U.S. needs a comprehensive national strategy that includes increased funding for R&D, improved workforce development, and stronger domestic industry capabilities. The report also emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships and the need to address systemic issues such as gender bias and visa restrictions.

Key Information

5G Power Framework

The 5G Power Framework evaluates countries across five layers:

1. Enable: Establishing a strong legal, policy, and R&D foundation.
2. Develop: Building a national industry to produce 5G hardware, software, and services.
3. Deploy: Ensuring secure and resilient 5G infrastructure.
4. Adopt: Accelerating the adoption of 5G across government, business, and society.
5. Employ: Using 5G to enhance national power through strategic applications.

Each layer includes 14 key capabilities that are scored based on technical maturity and implementation. The U.S. and China lead in these areas, but the U.S. has room for improvement.

Research Methodology

• Countries Evaluated: 10 diverse countries were selected for benchmarking.
• Data Sources: Qualitative and quantitative evidence was gathered to assess each country's capabilities.
• Scoring Rubric: A standardized rubric was used to evaluate and compare countries' performance in the 5G Power Framework.

Findings

• Global 5G Ecosystems Are Not Yet Mature: No country has fully developed, deployed, and adopted a mature 5G ecosystem.
• R&D Investment Gap: China outspends the U.S. significantly in 5G R&D, with Huawei alone spending $20B in 2020.
• Workforce Challenges: Both the U.S. and China face challenges in retaining and training skilled software engineers and security experts.
• Supply Chain Risks: Reliance on global supply chains poses a threat to national security and economic independence.
• Need for Collaboration: Public-private partnerships and transnational initiatives are essential to accelerate 5G adoption and innovation.

U.S. Policy Recommendations

Enable Layer

• Increase R&D Funding: Double the U.S. 5G R&D budget and scale pilot programs across the federal government.
• Expand Public-Private Partnerships: Leverage partnerships to advance 5G and IoT research and development.
• Support Education and Training: Implement specialized technical education programs to address labor shortages and provide focused skill development in 5G areas.
• Promote Retention of Talent: Develop policies to retain skilled workers, particularly women and foreign graduates, by addressing the gender pay gap, improving work-life balance, and streamlining visa processes.

Develop Layer

• Re-Shore 5G Production: Shift the development and manufacturing of 5G hardware and software to the U.S. to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.
• Stimulate Domestic Industry: Create a world-class domestic software development industry through government grants, public-private partnerships, and national incentives.
• Encourage Innovation: Support small businesses through programs like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) to foster innovation in 5G and related technologies.

Deploy Layer

• Improve Metrics for 5G Deployment: Use more comprehensive metrics to better understand the state of 5G deployment and its impact on national security and economic growth.
• Secure Spectrum Allocation: Open up more spectrum for private use to accelerate 5G infrastructure development.
• Invest in Rural Broadband: Increase funding for rural broadband initiatives to reduce the digital divide and promote equitable access to 5G.

Adopt Layer

• Accelerate Market Adoption: Encourage rapid adoption of 5G through partnerships with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.
• Foster New Business Models: Support the development of new business models that leverage 5G capabilities.
• Leverage International Alliances: Engage with international partners such as NATO to promote 5G adoption and collaboration.

Employ Layer

• Promote U.S. 5G Leadership: Expand efforts to make non-Chinese 5G technology more cost-effective and accessible to developing countries.
• Influence Global Standards: Re-commit to leading international standards development organizations to ensure U.S. values and security priorities are reflected in 5G norms.
• Enhance Diplomatic Engagement: Use diplomatic channels to shape the global 5G agenda and promote security cooperation with partner nations.

Conclusion

The U.S. has the potential to win the 5G race if it implements a comprehensive, well-funded national strategy that focuses on strengthening its industrial base, enhancing R&D, and fostering collaboration across government, industry, and academia. The report emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to 5G development and adoption, ensuring that the U.S. can not only keep pace with China but also lead in shaping the future of global technology and geopolitics.