NTS Snapshot – October 2020 – Status Update
LTE and 5G Market Statistics
Network Types
Over 400 operators are investing in 5G networks
As of October 2020 GSA’s NTS database showed:
- There are 795 operators with commercially launched LTE networks (offering broadband fixed wireless access and or mobile services)
Within this, GSA has identified:
- 406# operators that have launched LTE fixed wireless access services (excludes those offering MiFi/dongle services only).
- 728# operators that offer fully mobile LTE services.
- 233 # operators hold licences to use spectrum for TD-LTE services, 165 of which are known to be actively using the spectrum (either deploying networks or have launched services).
- 353 operators are deploying or have launched LTE-Advanced or LTE-Advanced Pro technologies in their commercial networks. 207 operators are investing in one or more LTE-Advanced Pro technologies.
- 402 operators in 129 countries are investing in 5G networks in the form of tests, trials, pilots, planned and actual deployments.
- 136 operators have announced that they have deployed 3GPP-compliant 5G technology in their networks. Of those, GSA now counts 112 operators in 47 countries/territories that have launched one or more 3GPP-compliant commercial retail 5G services.
- 5G standalone data added to the NTS database for the first time: 52 operators investing in 5G standalone (including those evaluating/testing, piloting, planning, deploying as well as those that have launched 5G SA networks)
Network Features
110 deployed/launched NB-IoT networks worldwide
The NTS database tracks various LTE network technologies:
- 4×4 MIMO – 150 operators identified as investing, of which 93 have deployed/launched the technology within their commercial networks.
- 8T8R MIMO and Massive MIMO – 84 operators identified as investing in these technologies; at least 38 deployed/launched.
- 256 QAM in the DL – 124 operators identified as investing, of which 79 are known to have deployed/launched the technology within their commercial networks.
- And numerous key LTE service features:
- 36 operators investing in LAA (9 with deployed/launched networks); 12 operators investing in LTE-U (3 with deployed/launched networks); 3 operators investing in LWA (one launch so far).
- 273 operators investing in VoLTE, and 224 operators with launched VoLTE services.
- 110 deployed/launched NB-IoT networks.
- 49 deployed/launched networks LTE-M networks.
NTS Snapshot – October 2020 – Status Update
©GSA 2020
