5G Network Infrastructure Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Component (RAN, 5G Core), By Band (Sub-6 GHz, MmWave), By Deployment (Standalone, Non- Standalone), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

The global 5G Infrastructure market is valued at US$ 24.680 billion in 2022.

GROWTH DRIVERS

• Deployment of mmWave 5G solutions

Millimeter wave (mmWave) technology is essential for the success of 5G network deployments, offering a tenfold increase in available contiguous bandwidth compared to sub-6 GHz 5G Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands. Several countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Italy, have already allocated mmWave frequencies to enhance their data services. The collective efforts of governments worldwide in making mmWave frequencies available are expected to fuel the 5G network’s growth. The 5G mmWave spectrum deployment will expand mobile network bandwidth, supporting 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services with multi-gigabit speeds and improved broadband connectivity in suburban and rural areas.

For instance:

• In February 2023, Telefónica, Ericsson, and Qualcomm jointly launched the first commercial mobile 5G mmWave network in Spain. Ericsson's contributions include the mmWave radio AIR 5322 and high-capacity RAN Processor 6651, enabling extensive 5G millimeter coverage. Leveraging 5G mmWave spectrum ensures top-notch speeds, high capacity, and an exceptional 5G experience, particularly in densely populated areas.
• In February 2022, Movandi collaborated with Qualcomm to offer 5G mmWave adoption. Movandi is one of the leading companies in 5G mmWave RF technologies and software. Both companies are strong proponents of 5G technology, and the combination of mmWave small cells powered by Qualcomm® FSM™ 5G RAN Platforms and Movandi-powered 5G smart repeaters will help visitors.

The inevitable shift towards Standalone 5G network Infrastructures

5G SA (Standalone) is poised for widespread commercial use as forward-thinking service providers roll out 5G SA networks across various markets. The availability of 5G SA-compatible devices is rising, constituting more than half of all announced 5G devices. As 5G SA networks continue to expand globally, optimizing 5G coverage and terminals remains a priority. With impressive features like high bandwidth, low latency, and reliability, it is set to become the prevailing standard in the 5G era and is expected and required for 5G deployment.

• In November 2023, Spark revealed its plans to initiate the construction of a 5G standalone network in collaboration with technology providers Ericsson and Red Hat. This network will directly link 5G-enabled cell towers to a dedicated 5G core, establishing a comprehensive 5G network architecture. This setup is set to provide uninterrupted experiences and open up new, innovative possibilities for individuals and businesses in New Zealand.
• In February 2023, Deutsche Telekom and Mavenir introduced advancements in 5G Standalone Network Slicing Service capabilities. Utilizing Mavenir's cloud-native 5G Core, which offers Open APIs, Deutsche Telekom enterprise customers can effortlessly request the setup and customization of dedicated 5G Core user and control plane network functions, enhancing service opportunities in network slicing.

Remarkable Implementation of IoT Connections  

The market growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for enhanced network capacity, low latency, and improved network performance to support emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT). According to the Ericsson Mobility Report 2023, Wide-area IoT leads with 2.9 billion connections, demonstrating the highest coverage due to the widespread deployment of NB-IoT and Cat-M technologies supporting wide-area IoT applications. As per the same source, Northeast Asia leads in the number of cellular IoT connections and is expected to exceed 2 billion connections in 2023. With the introduction of 5G New Radio (NR) in both old and new spectrum bands, data throughput rates for this segment are expected to increase substantially.

EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE 5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET

5G NR

Environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient networks are of utmost importance. 5G NR has been designed to significantly reduce power consumption by putting base stations to sleep when there is no traffic, thus consuming less energy during these idle periods. 5G NR allows for higher data rates and lower latency, leading to faster termination of user data sessions and reduced energy consumption per transmitted bit by devices. The range of use cases for 5G NR is extensive, including support for smart city infrastructure, traffic management, Internet of Things (IoT) applications in industrial automation, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and IoT applications in drones.

In 2023, Malaysia's Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) will become the first in Southeast Asia to utilize Ericsson's 5G RedCap. Ericsson's RedCap is an innovative radio access network (RAN) software solution to enhance existing 5G use cases. RedCap enables service providers to introduce services beyond enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and extend 5G capabilities to new types of devices, including wearables and industrial sensors.

5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET GEOGRAPHICAL PRESENCE

• In February 2023, Econet collaborated with Ericsson to modernize its network infrastructure in Zimbabwe, focusing on upgrading its Radio Access Network (RAN) and mobile Core network in preparation for 5G expansion. This partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation by transitioning the current network to a cloud-native architecture. The upgraded network will enable Econet to offer 5G connectivity in additional areas, unlocking advanced consumer and enterprise applications.
• In October 2022, Ericsson forged a significant, long-term strategic 5G agreement with Indian communications service provider Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. (Jio) to deploy 5G Standalone (SA) infrastructure in India. This partnership aims to establish India's inaugural 5G Standalone network, contributing to India's digital leadership. Leveraging the capabilities of 5G SA, the collaboration intends to foster innovation, fortify the 5G ecosystem, and provide advanced services.

MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE MARKET

Some of the prominent players in the market, including Qualcomm, Mobix Labs, and Ericsson, among others, offer a range of product offerings, which include:

5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET SEGMENTATION

• By Component
  • RAN
  • 5G Core
• By Band
  • Sub-6 GHz
  • MmWave
• By Deployment
  • Standalone
  • Non- Standalone
• By Geography
  • Americas
    • United States
    • Others
  • EMEA
    • Germany
    • UK
    • Others
  • APAC
    • China
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • Others