Evolution of LTE to 5G: Market Status February 2020.
Updated 13 February Figure 6 legend missing green band 43
Introduction
LTE is a global success, with nearly 5 billion subscriptions and connecting over 55% of mobile users worldwide and it is the fastest developing mobile system technology ever. 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 that 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
There are:
- 930+ operators 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 technology-neutral licences exclusively for 2G or 3G services).
- 791 operators running LTE networks providing mobile and/or FWA services in 229 countries worldwide.
- 206 commercial VoLTE networks in 96 countries and a total of 270 operators investing in VoLTE in 119 countries.
- 311 deployed/launched LTE-Advanced networks in 138 countries. Overall, 348 operators are investing in LTE-Advanced technology in 147 countries.
- Eight launched networks that support user equipment (UE) at Cat-18 DL speeds within limited geographic areas and four supporting Cat-19 (in a limited area).
- 237 operators with TDD licences suitable for LTE and at least 167 operators are known to be actively using the spectrum (either deploying services or have launched LTE-TDD networks).
- 159 operators investing in NB-IoT in 74 countries; of these, 106 NB-IoT networks are deployed/launched in 57 countries. Sixty-nine operators are investing in LTE-M/Cat-M1 in 39countries; of these, 43 LTE-M/Cat-M1 networks are deployed/commercially launched in 31 countries.
- 356 operators in 121 countries are investing in 5G mobile or 5G FWA/home broadband networks.
- 78 operators in 43 countries have announced the deployment of 5G within their live network.
- 62 operators in 34 countries have announced 3GPP 5G service launches (or limited service launches)
Note that all references to countries in this document can be read as also including territories, special administrative regions, disputed territories and dependencies.
©2020 GSA
