5G Networks Report - Spirent

Data from over 500 new 5G commitments with Spirent include trends in 5G SA as a catalyst for telecom digital transformation, new 5G SA services and devices, non-terrestrial networks for 5G direct-to-device, and how private networks deliver rapid return on investment.

Last year, continuous advances in 5G Standalone (SA) focused on testing, use case validations, and initial deployments, which have paved the way for large-scale deployments. Driven by growing automation and 5G core adoption, we predict that 2024 will be the year when 5G becomes a reality.

This is one of the main conclusions of Spirent’s 2024 5G report.

Latest from the 5G front lines

 

Despite macro-economic headwinds in telecommunications in 2023, Spirent participated in over 500 new 5G initiatives with more than 150 customers. This brings our total number of 5G commitments to date to over 3,100.

Over five years, we have tracked trends indicating our commitments about what to expect from the 5G market. For 2024, we see numerous signs that we are overcoming the technical challenges of deploying and integrating new cloud-native 5G core technologies. Ambitious use cases, end users, and operator results will benefit.

In 2023, Spirent observed increased demand for testing enhanced 5G core capabilities as service providers prepare to launch differentiated services. There was also a notable uptick in our work with network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and device OEMs. Our industry-leading Landslide 5G Core testing solution was selected by more than 30 operators, establishing a clearer timeline for 5G SA deployments.

Details can be found in our fifth annual 5G outlook report, which highlights the trends driving deployment activity and predictions for the next year.

 

What we have learned from over 500 new 5G commitments

 

Spirent CEO Eric Updyke opens this year’s report with observations on the projections and promises we have heard over more than half a decade, noting that they are finally becoming a reality.

Spirent’s 2024 report explores a wide range of findings, insights, and predictions about 5G that point to a market ready to unlock substantial potential and reap well-deserved revenue rewards.

Key trends we are tracking include:

 

• 5G SA as a catalyst for telco digital transformation. 5G SA is becoming the primary driver of digital transformation programs, with major momentum from network lifecycle automation. We estimate that 20 percent of mature service providers have begun implementing DevOps and agile practices such as automated continuous integration, deployment, and testing (CI/CD/CT).
• New 5G SA services and devices. The increase in 5G SA-enabled device testing has focused on performance and customer experience testing of new immersive voice and video services.
• Transport network improvements. To address 5G traffic growing four to five times faster than 4G, and in preparation for 5G SA, major service providers initiated 200/400G upgrade cycles for IP backbone networks.
• Non-terrestrial networks for 5G direct-to-device. Testing of new low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites increased, with special focus on 5G direct-to-device services. Key factors were performance capabilities and technical and regulatory challenges.
• Private networks deliver rapid return on investment. Early deployments of commercial private networks delivered return on investment in as little as six months on a specific set of use cases and a simplified network-in-a-box deployment model. Interest grew around early Release 17 capabilities, including Reduced Capability (RedCap).

Spirent's 2024 report also delves into the paths 5G is taking in different geographies. We have observed a balanced mix of 5G-related commitments across service providers, original equipment manufacturers, and original equipment manufacturers, with the majority of activity in the Americas, followed by APAC and EMEA. This work spanned 5G core and cloud testing, automation testing and transport network infrastructure, service experience and benchmarking, RAN and device testing, and service assurance.

Beyond our own commitments, Spirent’s 2024 5G report explores the megatrends and technological advances that are driving next-generation mobile, from cloud-integrated networks to automation, data fidelity, AI, and operational challenges.

Finally, we offer our vision of a mature market for adoption and ready to gain return on investment. This includes potential future use cases with 5G Advanced and 6G, and the status of Open RAN, non-terrestrial, and private networks. We also provide first-hand accounts of 5G-driven real-world use cases that demonstrate the value 5G is bringing to the market.