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

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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

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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.

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Summary:

Although the eyes of the press have been firmly fixed on 5G developments, operators have been continuing to invest in their LTE networks. They have been deploying technologies designed to improve the capabilities of their LTE networks and, in particular, to improve peak downlink throughput speeds. Operators have been focusing mainly on three technologies from the LTE-Advanced toolkit: carrier aggregation, 4×4 MIMO and 256 QAM modulation in the downlink. If used together and with sufficient aggregated bandwidth, these can deliver maximum peak downlink speeds approaching, and even exceeding, 1 Gbps. Such networks are often described as gigabit LTE networks, mirroring a term also used in the fixed-line broadband industry.

Drawing on information collected by GSA about operator deployments of LTE-Advanced features for its comprehensive database on operator networks, technologies and spectrum, this report identifies operators investing at a technology level in gigabit LTE — defined as carrier aggregation plus 4×4 MIMO (or above) plus 256 QAM in the downlink. Note that “4×4 MIMO or above” includes 4×4 MIMO and all higher-order MIMO technologies such as 8T8R MIMO and massive-MIMO.

• 336 operators have deployed or launched LTE-Advanced networks in 146 countries and territories
• 334 operators in 143 countries and territories are investing in at least one of the three key gigabit LTE component technologies
• 115 operators in 67 countries and territories are identified as investing in all three key gigabit LTE component technologies
  • Of those, 74 operators in 42 countries and territories have deployed all three technologies
• 48 operators (representing 13.7% of all the deployed or launched LTE-Advanced networks) can support user equipment Cat-16 peak theoretical download speeds (at least 750 Mbps) or above
  • 36 of those have announced gigabit (or very near at 998 Mbps) peak theoretical throughput, or better, in the downlink in their deployed or commercial networks
  • Among those, seven can deliver peak maximum throughput of between 1.050 Gbps and 1.2 Gbps (Cat-18). Five have announced parts of their network can deliver a maximum rate in their commercial LTE networks of between 1.2 Gbps and 1.6 Gbps (Cat-19) and one has announced maximum peak downlink speeds in its LTE network over just over 1.7 Gbps (Cat-20)
• 669 commercially available devices can support LTE speeds at Cat-16 or better

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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.

Gigabit-LTE June 2022 Member Report

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Summary:

Although the eyes of the press have been firmly fixed on 5G developments, operators have been continuing to invest in their LTE networks. They have been deploying technologies designed to improve the capabilities of their LTE networks and, in particular, to improve peak downlink throughput speeds. Operators have been focusing mainly on three technologies from the LTE-Advanced toolkit: carrier aggregation, 4×4 MIMO and 256 QAM modulation in the downlink. If used together and with sufficient aggregated bandwidth, these can deliver maximum peak downlink speeds approaching, and even exceeding, 1 Gbps. Such networks are often described as gigabit LTE networks, mirroring a term also used in the fixed-line broadband industry.

Drawing on information collected by GSA about operator deployments of LTE-Advanced features for its comprehensive database on operator networks, technologies and spectrum, this report identifies operators investing at a technology level in gigabit LTE — defined as carrier aggregation plus 4×4 MIMO (or above) plus 256 QAM in the downlink. Note that “4×4 MIMO or above” includes 4×4 MIMO and all higher-order MIMO technologies such as 8T8R MIMO and massive-MIMO.

• 336 operators have deployed or launched LTE-Advanced networks in 146 countries and territories
• 334 operators in 143 countries and territories are investing in at least one of the three key gigabit LTE component technologies
• 115 operators in 67 countries and territories are identified as investing in all three key gigabit LTE component technologies
  • Of those, 74 operators in 42 countries and territories have deployed all three technologies
• 48 operators (representing 13.7% of all the deployed or launched LTE-Advanced networks) can support user equipment Cat-16 peak theoretical download speeds (at least 750 Mbps) or above
  • 36 of those have announced gigabit (or very near at 998 Mbps) peak theoretical throughput, or better, in the downlink in their deployed or commercial networks
  • Among those, seven can deliver peak maximum throughput of between 1.050 Gbps and 1.2 Gbps (Cat-18). Five have announced parts of their network can deliver a maximum rate in their commercial LTE networks of between 1.2 Gbps and 1.6 Gbps (Cat-19) and one has announced maximum peak downlink speeds in its LTE network over just over 1.7 Gbps (Cat-20)
• 669 commercially available devices can support LTE speeds at Cat-16 or better

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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.

Gigabit-LTE June 2022 Summary

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• GSA has identified 110 operators in 66 countries or territories investing in all the three core LTE-Advanced features for Gigabit LTE (defined as Carrier Aggregation, 4×4 MIMO or higher, and 256QAM modulation in the downlink).
• 62 operators are known to have deployed all three of these technologies and / or launched commercial services based on them.
• 321 operators in 136 countries are investing in at least one of the key technologies.
• Gigabit LTE does not always equal Gigabit speed. Some networks capable of delivering 1 Gbps downstream do so without using all three key LTE-Advanced features; some networks using all three features do not achieve 1 Gbps.

The fastest commercial LTE networks* in the GSA database are:

• Megafon: 1.6 Gbps; KDDI, SK Telecom, Swisscom, Telus, Turkcell:  1.2 Gbps; KT: 1.167 Gbps (achieved using MPTCP to combine LTE with 3CA and WiFi); China Unicom:  1.156 Gbps; Bell Mobility:  1.15 Gbps; 3 Hong Kong, Singtel:  1.1 Gbps

* in terms of declared maximum peak theoretical DL throughput

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• By the beginning of August 2019, there were 304 commercially launched LTE-Advanced networks in 134 countries.
• Overall, 335 operators are investing in LTE-Advanced (in the form of tests, trials, deployments or commercial service provision) in 141 countries
• Many operators with LTE-Advanced networks are looking to extend their capabilities by adding 3GPP Release 13 or Release 14 LTE-Advanced Pro features, e.g. those making use of carrier aggregation of large numbers of channels, or carriers across TDD and FDD modes, LAA, massive MIMO, Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk, LTE Cat-NB1/NB-IoT or LTE-M/Cat-M1

Data collated from GSA GAMBoD Database.

GAMBoD, the GSA Analyser for Mobile Broadband Data, is a unique search and analysis tool we developed to support our Members and Associates with the most up to date information on 4G & 5G devices networks, technologies and spectrum. Search results are presented as a list, or as a spreadsheet, or in charts that may be inserted into documents or presentations, subject to accreditation of GSA as the source.

The LTE Devices database can be searched by supplier, form factor, features, peak downlink and uplink speeds, and operating frequency. The NTS (Networks, Technologies & Spectrum) database can be searched by MBB technology, feature, UE category, downlink speed, spectrum bands used and can be segmented by region. Results are presented as a list or in charts. Charts may be inserted into documents or presentations, subject to accreditation of GSA as the source.

GAMBoD is a resource dedicated to promoting the success and growth of the MBB industry and ecosystem and is fully available to all employees of GSA Executive and Ordinary Member companies and GSA Associates who subscribe to the service.

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GSA maintains an extensive programme of mobile market monitoring in order to deliver regular reports about the state of development of wireless technology markets worldwide. GSA continuously publishes details and numbers of trials of, and commitments to invest in, key technologies, as well as counts of actual network deployments and commercial service launches.

In the course of its research and analysis, GSA must make a judgement about the state of adoption of each technology by any given operator. This task is made complex by operators’ inconsistent use of terminology and by marketing approaches designed to suggest that any new network or service is innovative and more advanced than those on offer from rivals. This often leads to the use of operator-specific or vendor-specific phrases to describe network deployments, where those phrases don’t align with industry standards or widely accepted definitions, or in other cases, leads to the use of the terms ‘4G’ or ‘5G’ where the network performance or characteristics do not justify the use of that term. In particular, there is a real alphabet soup of phrases now in use to describe networks that exceed LTE specifications.

To help cut through these inconsistencies and to ensure it is treating all network operators equally, GSA applies strict definitions so that it can effectively track the rate of growth of the different wireless technology markets. Sometimes this will mean applying a different categorisation to a network than the marketing terminology used by an operator itself.

This document provides the key definitions currently used by GSA. This is a living document and will evolve as markets and technologies evolve.

Areas covered.

LTE-Advanced

Any network using one or more of the following important capabilities from 3GPP Releases 10, 11, & 12 within a commercial network service.

LTE-Advanced Pro

Any network using one or more of the following important capabilities from Release 13 or Release 14 within a commercial network service. (Please note this is a reclassification from analysis undertaken prior to June 2017, which required both LTE Cat-NB1 (NB-IoT) or LTE-M/Cat-M1 and one or more of the other network features listed below. We are tracking the development of LTE Cat-NB1 and LTE-M/Cat-M1 separately.)

Gigabit mobile network

Any network delivering maximum download speeds of 1 Gbit/s or greater in commercial services. This definition does not include operators that have only reached those speeds in technology trials. It does not include ‘near gigabit’ speeds. A gigabit mobile network is not an LTE-Advanced Pro network unless it also meets the requirements set out for LTE-Advanced Pro, above.

Gigabit LTE technologies

A combination of the three technologies typically combined to deliver gigabit speeds in an LTE network, namely 4×4 MIMO, 256 QAM DL and carrier aggregation. Note that an operator may have deployed gigabit LTE technologies but may not have a gigabit mobile network due to lack of available spectrum

5G network

Any network meeting the 3GPP Release 15 specifications (and beyond) for non-standalone (NSA) or stand-alone (SA) 5G services. For clarity, where operators claim 5G network launches we will sometimes list these but will point out that they are not 3GPP 5G-compliant, if we are aware of it. An early example of this was Verizon’s 5G fixed wireless network based on its own Verizon 5GTF specification.

Network categories

Networks are counted/classified in accordance with the category of device (UE) they can fully support, rated by DL speed, as follows:

Network status definitions

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The strong momentum for 5G continues.
5G is on a roll. During the second quarter of 2019 several markets switched on 5G following the introduction of new 5G-compatible smartphones. Some communications service providers have set ambitious targets of reaching up to 90 percent population coverage within the first year. As 5G devices increasingly become available and more service providers launch 5G, over 10 million 5G subscriptions1 are projected worldwide by the end of 2019. Looking ahead, in the first five years, 5G subscription uptake is expected to be significantly faster than that of LTE, following its launch back in 2009.

On a global level, 5G network deployments are expected to ramp up during 2020, creating the foundation for massive adoption of 5G subscriptions. Most new 5G subscribers will be users trading up their 4G handsets to 5G-compatible devices following 5G services launching in their market. By the end of the period, it is also likely that many young users in mature markets will get a 5G smartphone as their first device.

Given the momentum in the market, we have increased our forecast for 5G subscriptions, and now expect there to be 1.9 billion 5G subscriptions for enhanced mobile broadband by the end of 2024. This will account for over 20 percent of all mobile subscriptions at that time. The peak of LTE subscriptions is projected for 2022, at around 5.3 billion subscriptions, with the number declining slowly thereafter. However, LTE will remain the dominant mobile access technology by subscription for the foreseeable future, and it is projected to have nearly 5 billion subscriptions at the end of 2024.

8.8 billion Cellular IoT connections and fixed wireless access (FWA) subscriptions supporting new use cases will come in addition to the mobile subscriptions shown in the graph in the report.

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• By May 2019, there were 302 commercially launched LTE-Advanced networks in 134 countries.
• Overall, 333 operators are investing in LTE-Advanced (in the form of tests, trials, deployments or commercial service provision) in 141 countries
• Many operators with LTE-Advanced networks are looking to extend their capabilities by adding 3GPP Release 13 or Release 14 LTE-Advanced Pro features, e.g. those making use of carrier aggregation of large numbers of channels, or carriers across TDD and FDD modes, LAA, massive MIMO, Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk, LTE Cat-NB1/NB-IoT or LTE-M/Cat-M1

This map is from Evolution from LTE to 5G – May 2019 published by GSA and available from www.gsacom.com. Data is drawn from the GSA GAMBoDNTS database, accessible to subscribers at  https://gsacom.com/gambod/

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Key market facts as of May 2019.

There are:

• 861 operators actively investing in LTE, including those evaluating/testing and trialling LTE and those paying for suitable spectrum licences (excludes those using technology neutral licences exclusively for 2G or 3G services).
• 750 operators running LTE networks providing mobile and/or FWA services in 223 countries worldwide.
• 188 commercial VoLTE networks in 89 countries and a total of 256 operators investing in VoLTE in 116 countries.
• 302 launched or launched (limited availability) LTE-Advanced networks in 134 countries. Overall, 333 operators are investing in LTE-Advanced technology in 141 countries.
• Ten launched networks that support user equipment (UE) at Cat-18 DL speeds within limited geographic areas.
• 760–770 anticipated commercially launched LTE networks by end-2019 (GSA forecast).
• 226 operators with TDD licences and at least 160 operators with launched LTE-TDD networks.
• 148 operators investing in NB-IoT in 71 countries; of these, 98 NB-IoT networks are deployed/launched in 53 countries. Sixty-two operators are investing in LTE-M/Cat-M1 in 36 countries; of these, 37 LTE-M/Cat-M1 networks are deployed/commercially launched in 25 countries.
• 235 operators in 93 countries have launched with limited availability, deployed, demonstrated, are testing or trialling, or have been licensed to conduct field trials of mobile 5G or FWA 5G.
• 45 operators in 30 countries have announced the deployment of 5G within their live network.
• 17 operators have announced limited 3GPP 5G service launches.

Note that all references to countries in this document can be read as also including territories, special administrative regions, disputed territories and dependencies.

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