LTE-to-5G May 2022 – UPDATED 17th May

LTE-to-5G May 2022. Quarterly Update

UPDATED 17th May with updated figures for consistency.

Report summary

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 moving onto standalone 5G systems with substantially different network configurations.

This 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 throughout the ecosystem.

Key facts

According to GSA’s NTS database, as of end of March 2022 there were:

• 976 operators in 244 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. This excludes those using spectrum licences exclusively for 2G or 3G services.
• 763 operators running LTE networks providing mobile and/or fixed wireless access services in more than 240 countries/territories worldwide.
• 239 operators investing in VoLTE in 131 countries/territories, of which 180 have launched commercial VoLTE networks in 106 countries/territories.
• 350 launched LTE-Advanced networks in 159 countries/territories. Overall, 370 operators are investing in LTE-Advanced technology in 159 countries/territories.
• 13 launched networks that support user equipment at Cat-18 downlink speeds in limited geographic areas, six of these supporting Cat-19 (in a limited area), and one of those supporting Cat-20 in selected locations.
• 300 operators deploying or operating TDD-based LTE or 5G networks, in sub-6 GHz spectrum.
• 491 operators in 148 countries/territories investing in 5G mobile or 5G fixed wireless access or home broadband networks.
• 211 operators in 61 countries/territories that have announced 3GPP-compatible 5G service launches, either mobile or fixed wireless access

GSA has identified 102 operators in 48 countries investing in standalone 5G for public networks in the form of trials, plans, paying for licences, deploying, or operating networks.

LTE-to-5G May 2022. Quarterly Update

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LTE-to-5G May 2022. Quarterly Update