The Key Impacts of Softwarization in the Modern Era of 5G and the Internet of Things

Fascinating technologies, such as software defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV) and mobile edge computing (MEC) among others, have introduced software-enabling capabilities to telecommunications, mobile and wireless communications. To depict this systemic evolution, various terminologies, such as system cloudification, network programmability, advanced computing and most popularly, softwarization, have been used by numerous scholars. Softwarization is now becoming a fully established phenomenon, especially in the new era of the rapidly evolving Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and the looming 5G technology. Away from the research and development (R&D) focus on the technological capabilities of softwarization, this article highlights the main stakeholders in softwarization and underlines a tripartite influence of the systemic evolution i.e. technical, social and economic impacts, all of which will be vital in ensuring a sustainable 5G technology and beyond.