The long-hyped promise of 5G is gradually becoming a
reality as communication service provides worldwide are battling one another to
deploy 5G networks. While 4G networks are quick enough for most users for their
internet needs, the next evolution of wireless networks is increasing at a
rapid pace. Countries that want to stay competitive in the global economy are
building and deploying 5G technology to make them available for citizens.The
next generation technology offers a great amount of spectrum for wireless
communication, at least one gigabit per second connection speeds, short delays
than 4G technology, enhanced reliability, much lower latency, and provides greater
flexibility to users.
The new 5G network has the potential to open a world
of possibilities for businesses and consumers alike with greater speed and
improved connectivity. Wireless technology can play a crucial role in accelerating
the adoption of self-driving cars, augmented reality, extended reality, virtual
reality, and other devices connected to the Internet of Things. According to
certain estimates, 5G technology could generate 22.3 million jobs and
contribute USD13.2 trillion to the global economy by 2035. With the
rapid adoption of IoT devices and advanced mobile broadband technology, the
demand for 5G networks is growing fast. Global 5G connection reached 429 million
in Q2, jumping 41% from 305 million in Q1, according to data from
Omdia.
As per the VIAVI Solutions report, the number of
cities with 5G networks has reached to 1,336 globally since the past
year despite the pandemic. Sixty-one countries worldwide have deployed
commercial 5G networks since January 2020, the majority of which are from Asia.
Overwhelming subscriber appetite for fast speed and enhanced connectivity is
the driving factor for the expansion of 5G networks in Asian countries. However,
China and the USA are significantly ahead of other nations in bandwidth
expansion and 5G rollout.
Here
are the top ten countries with the largest 5G network.
China has become the epicenter of 5G innovations
globally with widespread 5G infrastructure rollouts nationwide and maturation
of 5G solutions in the past two years. As the country seeks to become a global
leader in technology, China is expected to have 807 million 5G connections
by 2025, according to a GSMA report. China has built 961,000 5G base
stations, 365 5G terminal connections, while the shipments of 5G
phones in the country have jumped to 128 million units. According to
statistics from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT),
there are more than 10,000 cases of 5G applications across different sectors
such as education, healthcare, smart factories, power grids, mining,
transportation, gaming, etc.
Even China’s 14th Five-Year plan
(2021-2025) outlines the objectives to accelerate the large-scale deployment of
5G networks and increase its penetration rate to 56% over the next five
years over urban and rural areas. China has successfully managed to build 718,000
5G base stations (around 70% of the world’s total) and plans to
invest more than USD40 billion to build the world’s largest 5G network. As
per the latest Ericsson Mobility report, China’s 5G subscriptions are
anticipated to hit over 173 million users by the end of 2021 and reach 1.4
billion subscribers by 2026. Smartphone and video consumption are the main
driving factors for 5G adoption in the country.
According to the PwC report, 5G coverage is expected
to reach 75% of the US population with the expansion of the use of the mid-band
spectrum in urban and suburban areas. Major mobile operators such as AT&T,
T-Mobile, and Verizon are focused on deploying mid-band 5G through 2021 and
2022. While AT&T and Verizon have been strengthening their high band millimetre
wave and low 5G offering, a new entrant like Dish is planning to commence its
commercial 5G services from 2022. According to a latest
Ericsson report, around 195 million 5G subscriptions can be expected by
2026, and the technology is anticipated to occupy 71.5% of the entire US
mobile market by 2029. The economic benefits will be shared across rural
communities and minority groups in urban areas to bridge the digital gap to
ensure access. As per the Cellular
Telecommunication Industry Association (CTIA) estimates, the rapid growth with
the expansion of 5G technology could drive USD275 billion in investment
and lead to USD500 billion in economic growth.
One of the early adopters of 5G in 2018, South Korea continues
to set benchmarks with high-speed and low latency. On the consumer front, 5G connections
crossed the 9 million mark in September 2020, and the country is
estimated to reach more than 40 million 5G customers by 2025. High
subsidies and high consumer awareness are the main driving factors for South
Koreans’ early adoption of 5G. Besides, immense support from the South Korean
government to expand nationwide 5G coverage to 70% by 2025 is expected
to accelerate the South Korea 5G market.
With the country providing the fastest average
internet connection in the world, a quarter of South Korean mobile users have
already subscribed to 5G. Top South Korean telecom operators plan to commercialize
new 5G technologies such as millimetre-wave 5G, standalone versions of 5G
networks, etc. while making a net investment of USD22 billion through
2022. Besides, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has planned to make
available a total of 600 megahertz in the 28 GHz band and 100 MHz
in the 4.7 GHz band throughout the country.
Many UK mobile network operators started commercializing
their 5G networks in 2019, but its adoption expanded with a wider availability
of 5G enabled handsets in the market. Currently, 5G penetration in England,
Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales stands at 10.9%, 7.8%, 5.3%,
and 4.4% respectively. Everything Everywhere (EE) launched UK’s first 5G
service in May 2019 in some parts of London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham,
and Manchester and plans to cover the whole country by 2028. Besides, another
largest telecom operator, O2, has successfully rolled out 5G services in 180
cities of the UK. The introduction of various 5G phones like Samsung Galaxy S20
Ultra 5G, S20+ 5G, One Plus 7 Pro, Galaxy Fold 5G and others are also expanding
5G coverage throughout the country. Besides, the
increased adoption of electric vehicles in the country is set to drive the 5G
coverage in the country in coming years.
Spanish
multinational telecommunications company, Telefónica has planned to make 5G
available to 90% of the country’s population by 2022. The company is
already providing 5G services to 80% of its population, spanning its
services across 1300 towns and cities. Other telecom operators such as Orange,
Vodafone, MasMovil have also launched their 5G commercial services in large
cities to expand the coverage. Spain has prioritized 5G development in the
post-pandemic recovery strategy by earmarking nearly USD171 billion to expand
the digitization plans.
Although 5G is an emerging technology in Canada,
telecom operators are actively working on expanding the wireless network
coverage throughout the country at an impressive rate. Mobile speeds in Canada
have consistently been in the top ten globally for download speed, but the new 5G
technology has made the network 205% faster than 4G. As per statistics,
Bell was the fastest operator in the country in Q4 2020, with a median speed of
228.99 Mbps. British Columbia has the largest number of cities with commercially
available 5G services, but Montreal has the fastest 5G download speed. Roger
Communications network covers 97% of Canada, which has invested over USD4
billion in 2019 and USD2 billion in 2020. Roger 5G services are
available in Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto. The growing internet
penetration and the increasing need to boost innovation to keep up with the
technological advancements are further boosting expansion of 5G in Canada.
Australian 5G network is anticipated to add up to USD2000
in GDP per person post the first decade of the network rollout. Australia’s
largest telecom operatoras already deployed
over 2000 5G base stations, covering 41% of the country’s population.
The telco aims to cover 75% of Australia’s population to provide 5G
services across the country. Australia has median 5G download speed of 283.56
Mbps, considered as fastest mobile speeds in the world. Australian telecom
operators are spearheading efforts to provide outstanding commercial 5G
services to the population. Optus is currently taking the lead in delivering
the fastest 5G in the country with a download speed of 309.86 Mbps. Telstra
has become the first telco to provide a Gigabit-class LTE service coupled with a
4-layer MIMO technique and advanced modulation schemes for the best network
availability.
Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of 5G
deployment with an aim to expand digital infrastructure with private companies.
The Saudi Telecom Company now has the biggest 5G coverage with a median speed
of 370.12 Mbps. The number of governorates covered under the 5G network
has reached up to 60, rising from just 7 in the first quarter of 2020, as per
the report from Kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission.
With the faster rollout of 5G, Saudi Arabia plans to support 45 million new
“Internet of things” devices, creating a market worth USD12 billion by
2030. 5G is crucial to Saudi Arabia’s aspirations of becoming a global leader
in smart city development, an essential part of Saudi vision 2030.
For more than two years, 5G has become a commercial
reality in Italy, with many network operators providing outstanding services to
citizens and businesses alike. TIM has spread its 5G services in Rome, Milan,
Turin, Florence, and other regions and plans to cover 120 cities by the
end of 2021, including 245 industrial districts. Vodafone has activated
its 5G services in many areas and covers almost 90% population in Milan.
Italian operator Wind Tre has started its operations in among 59 provinces
and eight provincial capitals covering around 79% of the Italian
population. For the further rollout of 5G, the Italian government has further planned
to launch a USD4 billion investment scheme connecting 6.2 million people
to the network.
Finland is a pioneer in 5G technology and the first
country to deploy 5G. The front-runner in 5G research and development, Finland
has made 5G available in various frequency bands such as 00 MHz, 3,400–3,800
MHz, and 26 GHz, identified as pioneer frequency bands in Europe. Finnish
telecom operator Elisa has a 5G network coverage across 100 locations,
covering around 50% of the population. More than 1.8 million
Finnish households gained access to hi-speed 5G technology by the end of 2020,
with 3000 mobile network operators spread across 109
municipalities. Finland’s strong history as a prominent player in network
technology gives the country a strong network infrastructure. So, while the
world still grapples with 5G technology, the country is already performing
R&D for 6G.
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