Evolution from 4G to 5G – January 2022
Introduction
LTE is a global success with over 6.6 billion subscriptions, connecting nearly two-thirds of mobile users worldwide. LTE is specified by 3GPP as a single global standard for paired and unpaired spectrum users. The vast majority of the standard is the same for FDD and TDD. LTE has evolved through various 3GPP technology releases, covering the introduction of LTE-Advanced and then LTE-Advanced Pro, which have significantly improved the capabilities of LTE networks. From 3GPP Release 15 onwards, the community has been defining 5G networks, starting with non-Standalone 5G systems that integrate with existing LTE networks and then moving on to Standalone 5G systems with substantially different network configurations. GSA’s Evolution from LTE to 5G report provides an independent in-depth status view and analysis of the global 4G/LTE, LTE-Advanced and 5G markets, supported by facts, and confirms technology trends. Information is obtained, analysed and verified by GSA. The report is published quarterly and referenced by industry across the whole ecosystem.
Key market facts
According to GSA’s NTS database, as of end December 2021 there were:
- 906# operators in 243 countries/territories that have stated plans to invest or are actively investing in LTE for public networks, including those evaluating/testing and trialling LTE and those paying for suitable spectrum licences (excludes those using spectrum licences exclusively for 2G or 3G services).
- 791# operators running LTE networks providing mobile and/or FWA services in >240 countries/territories worldwide.
- a total of 282 operators investing in VoLTE in 128 countries/territories, of which 227# have launched commercial VoLTE networks in 109 countries/territories.
- 336 launched LTE-Advanced networks in 151 countries/territories. Overall, 369 operators are investing in LTE-Advanced technology in 159 countries/territories.
- Thirteen launched networks that support user equipment (UE) at Cat-18 DL speeds within limited geographic areas and six of these supporting Cat-19 (in a limited area), and one of those supporting Cat-20 in selected locations.
- >250 operators deploying or operating TDD-based LTE or 5G networks, in sub-6 GHz spectrum.
- 487 operators in 145 countries/territories investing in 5G mobile or 5G FWA/home broadband networks.
- 200 operators in 78 countries/territories who have announced 3GPP-compatible 5G service launches (either mobile or FWA).
- GSA has identified 99 operators in 50 countries investing in 5G standalone for public networks in the form of trials, plans, paying for licences, deploying, or operating networks.
#Numbers restated since the last issue following the removal of some operators from our database to reflect their acquisition, failure or market withdrawal.
Note that all references to countries/territories in this document can be read as also including territories, special administrative regions, disputed territories and dependencies.
Evolution from 4G to 5G – January 2022
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