EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The global 5G market is entering a more selective and strategic phase of development.

The first years of 5G were defined by launch momentum. Operators raced to switch on services, extend coverage and establish a visible 5G presence in their markets. That expansion continues, with 392 operators now having launched 5G networks and 643 operators investing in the technology overall. But the pace and character of growth are changing. The relatively modest annual increase in total 5G investment suggests that the market is moving beyond its initial land-grab phase and into a period shaped less by headline launches and more by network quality, architectural maturity and service differentiation.

As the global data in this latest report shows, that shift is most clearly visible in 5G Standalone. While non-standalone still accounts for the majority of launched services, standalone is steadily gaining share and now underpins much of the industry’s next wave of innovation. As operators build out standalone cores, they are putting in place the foundations for 5G RedCap, network slicing, more advanced enterprise offers and the broader transition towards programmable, cloud-native mobile networks. In parallel, the emergence of 5G-Advanced, which itself requires a 5G SA core, shows that the leading edge of the market is already beginning to move beyond basic 5G deployment and towards enhanced performance, efficiency and automation.

The ecosystem around 5G is also deepening. Device numbers continue to rise, but the more telling trend is diversification: alongside smartphones, the market now includes a growing base of industrial routers, modules, FWA CPEs and other specialised devices that support enterprise and sector-specific use cases. Private mobile networks are expanding steadily, with 5G taking a rising share, while satellite-to-cellphone partnerships are moving from concept to commercial launch. Fixed wireless access remains one of the most widely deployed and commercially proven 5G use cases, particularly in markets seeking to extend broadband reach quickly.

Taken together, these trends point to a market that is no longer defined simply by how many 5G networks exist, but by what those networks are becoming. 5G in 2026 will be shaped by standalone adoption, ecosystem readiness and the ability of operators to translate technical capability into commercial value.

In this report you will find the latest headline data behind all these trends and developments. All of the detail behind the data is available exclusively to GSA Members and Associates in GAMBoD, GSA’s suite of databases, covering devices, public networks, private networks, chipsets, spectrum assignments, spectrum pricing and a global database of mobile operator technology and spectrum profiles. All employees of GSA Member or GSA Associate organisation will be able to benefit from unlimited access to the full suite of seven databases.

Key Highlights

• 392 operators have launched 5G networks, up 14% from March 2025, reflecting 44% of total LTE and 5G networks.

• In the last year, 11 5G auctions have been completed across the world, for an average price of $663.4 million.

• As of now, there are 4,256 announced 5G devices, up 24% from last year. In comparison, total LTE devices totalled 29,024.

• 95 operators have launched a 5G Standalone service, highlighting a growth of 42% since 1Q25.

• In total, 35 operators are investing in 5G-Advanced, an increase of 71% since last year. Of these, 11 operators have launched a service.

• The manufacturing vertical is a strong adopter of mobile private networks, with 374 identified customer deployments, followed by the education and academic research sector with 169 customers deploying it.

• 97 operators are investing in satellite-to cellphone connectivity and 8 available chipsets are compatible with the technology.

• There are 394 operators who have launched a 5G fixed wireless service, with another 29 investing in the technology, an increase of 59% since June 2025.

The global 5G market is entering a more selective and strategic phase of development.

The data in this report is correct as of the end of March 2026.

State of the Market April 2026

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

The post State of the Market April 2026 appeared first on GSA.

The Q1 2026 Mobile Industry statistics pulled from the GSA GAMBoD industry databases.

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

The post GSA Infographics April 2026 appeared first on GSA.

5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) aims to bridge the gap between the cost and power requirements of various 5G uses, particularly addressing requirements for connected devices such as wearables, security and surveillance equipment and industrial sensors.

By lowering 5G device costs, while continuing to support advanced 5G features such as network slicing and 5G-only spectrum bands, RedCap will help operators to better monetise their 5G networks.

This report offers a snapshot of 5G RedCap’s market momentum. The full report provides insights about the global status of 5G standalone and 5G RedCap, investments by operators and a comprehensive outline of the 5G RedCap ecosystem, illustrating support for the technology in chipsets, modules and end-user devices. It also covers enhanced RedCap (eRedCap), its benefits, potential in 5G and GSA’s vision for how it will shape this ecosystem.

5G RedCap Status.

When assessing the global status of 5G RedCap in March 2026, GSA identified 42 operators in 27 countries that are currently investing in the technology.  A closer look at the status of these investments underscores that many operators are currently in the trial phase. Operators in Bahrain, Czechia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom are testing the viability of a 5G Redcap network alongside existing

5G networks.

Six operators are planning a 5G RedCap service and Rogers Wireless (including Fido) in Canada is in the process of deploying these services on its network. Since the previous update in September 2025, Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom in Germany, SoftBank in Japan, M1 in Singapore, MasOrange in Spain and Etisalat (e&) in the United Arab Emirates are the latest to launch a 5G RedCap service. These accompany eight other operators which had previously launched a service: Optus in Australia, stc in Kuwait, Dito in the Philippines, T-Mobile and AT&T in the United States and the three major Chinese operators — China Unicom, China Telecom and China Mobile.

5G RedCap – April 2026

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

The post 5G RedCap – April 2026 – Industry Update appeared first on GSA.

The March 2026 edition of GSA’s Region Spotlight: Northern America highlights a mature and advanced telecom market. The region has started its transition away from legacy networks, with widespread 2G and 3G shutdowns enabling operators to focus on LTE and 5G network modernisation. LTE remains a core technology in use, but deployment has plateaued as operators focus on expanding their 5G services and coverage.

Northern America continues to demonstrate strong momentum in 5G, with 34 launched networks across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The region is accelerating toward 5G standalone, with 12 operators having launched at least one commercial 5G standalone network and operators in both the United States and Canada investing in 5G‑Advanced. These developments position the region to enable next‑generation capabilities including network slicing and ultralow-latency services.

Private mobile networks represent another area of regional leadership as Northern America accounts for 32% of the global total with strong uptake across manufacturing, education, research and defence. The United States is leading in this market with 506 private mobile deployments.

These developments coupled with growing activity in satellite‑to‑device partnerships and fixed wireless access reflect Northern America’s continued leadership in next-generation connectivity.

• The report provides a comprehensive overview of 4G and 5G deployments in Northern America, using the latest GSA data. It covers:
• The state of LTE and its ongoing role in mobile broadband.
• Progress of 5G, including 5G standalone and 5G-Advanced.
• Evolution of private networks and enterprise 5G adoption.
• Status of 2G and 3G switch-offs, which North America leads globally.
• Expansion of satellite networks and other emerging technologies.
• Adoption of fixed wireless access and deployment of services.

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

Regional Spotlight – Northern America March 2026

The post Regional Spotlight – Northern America March 2026 appeared first on GSA.

Excel file annex to accompany the Northern America Regional Spotlight report.

The post Northern America Member Annex appeared first on GSA.

5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) devices are designed to cater to IoT and FWA use cases with requirements of low device complexity and power consumption but moderate requirements on peak data rates. Built upon the 5G NR (New Radio) standard, 5G RedCap aims to offer a balanced approach to connectivity, enabling implementation and operation of cost- and energy-efficient devices for a wide range of IoT applications. As industries and applications continue to embrace this technology, RedCap is set to revolutionise how devices communicate and interact, paving the way for a more connected and efficient future.

Join the GSA Research Team and the GSA 5G RedCap Special Interest Group as they explore topics including:

* Timelone of RedCap services
* Capabilities of RedCap versus eRedCap
* Global status of 5G standalone network deployments
* A global view and regional-level look at the deployment of RedCap 5G
* New GSA initiatives to drive and support the RedCap ecosystem
* The RedCap vendor ecosystem perspective – presented by NEXA

Key data highlights include:
5G Standalone continues to grow
Rising investment in 5G standalone networks is increasing the locations where RedCap can be deployed
As of March 2026, 184 operators in 76 countries have invested in 5G standalone
95 operators in 53 countries have launched a 5G standalone service
So far in 2026, four operators in four countries have launched 5G standalone

Global view on 5G RedCap
As of March 2026, 42 operators in 27 countries have been identified as investing in RedCap

• 14 operators have launched a 5G RedCap service
• O2 Telefonica in Germany announced it is launching 5G RedCap in early 2026
• Half of operators investing in RedCap are still trialling the technology

A free on-demand replay of the full webinar is available to watch here: https://gsacom.com/webinar/5g-redcap-2/

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

The post 5G RedCap webinar – March 2026 appeared first on GSA.

The February 2026 edition of GSA’s PMN report shows continued, solid growth in enterprise LTE and 5G customer deployments. By the end of 4Q25, GSA had identified 1,953 organisations worldwide deploying private mobile networks with a contract value above €100,000, spanning 84 countries. Customer references have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 51% since 2017, underlining sustained market momentum.
Manufacturing continues to be the leading sector by number of deployments, followed by education and academic research and mining, reflecting the importance of private networks in industrial automation, testing and mission-critical applications. 5G adoption is increasing, accounting for more than half of deployments announced since 2022.

Geographically, deployments are concentrated in high- and upper-middle-income markets, with the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom leading. A strong correlation persists between private network adoption and the availability of dedicated or shared spectrum, reinforcing the role of regulatory frameworks in shaping market development.
GSA members can find full details of allocation of dedicated private network spectrum and a list of organisations deploying or piloting private mobile networks in an annex, provided as an Excel attachment.

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.
Private Mobile Networks February 2026

The post Private Mobile Networks February 2026 appeared first on GSA.

This Member and Associate Annex accompanies the February PMN report detailing all the private mobile networks that GSA is tracking.

The post PMN February 2026 – ANNEX appeared first on GSA.

The latest report provides a snapshot of global public network and operator activities based on GSA’s GAMBoD database. The report outlines the slowdown in LTE investment, with no public LTE network launches so far in 2026. Currently, there are 843 operators that offer LTE broadband and mobile services, including 445 operators with public fixed wireless access networks.

In 5G, 645 operators across 192 countries are investing in tests, pilots and deployments. Of these, 383 operators in 146 countries have launched commercial 5G services. A total of 94 operators have launched or soft launched a 5G standalone network, and 28 operators are investing in 5G-Advanced for public networks, with seven of these networks launched.

The report provides a snapshot of the development of LTE and 5G networks. To dive deeper into GSA data, explore the GAMBoD database, which has information on spectrum assignments, spectrum pricing, public networks, private networks and more. The members’ report provides data from OpenSignal, including the average 5G download speeds.

Public Networks and Mobile Operators – February 2026

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

The post Public Networks and Mobile Operators – February 2026 appeared first on GSA.

The January 2026 report highlights the accelerating integration of non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and satellite connectivity into the world of cellular communication. There is growing interest in satellite communication, with 225 publicly announced operator–satellite partnerships in 88 countries and territories as of January 2026.

Satellite-to-cellphone services are grabbing the headlines, with 16 partnerships having launched services. Though initial progress was led by Asia and North America, services are now launching in Europe and South America. A further 25 partnerships are trialling the technology with 53 in planning stage, indicating that there will be further launches in 2026 and beyond.

Community and enterprise broadband still accounts for 45% of all partnerships announced between satellite network operators and telecom operators, which is partly due to the technology being more widely available for longer. In contrast, satellite IoT is beginning to gain traction, with companies like Skylo and OQ increasingly playing important roles.

The US has the most satellite vendors, with 15 including companies such as Starlink and AST SpaceMobile. The UK and China both have five constellations. A growing number of countries have a satellite constellation either planned or launched, as recorded in the GSA database, including Australia, India and Spain.

There is a limited number of devices that have satellite compatibility with 3GPP narrowband NTN standards, whilst other devices are modified to work with certain constellations. Furthermore, some direct-to-cellphone constellations rely on IMT spectrum which, theoretically, would work with any 4G or 5G smartphone.

© GSA 2026

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Weibo

WeChat: GSA Express

https://gsacom.com

GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

5G NTN February 2026

The post 5G NTN February 2026 appeared first on GSA.