5G SA still a subset of 5G, hampering RedCap and more – GSA

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(Source: Isabel Infantes/Alamy Stock Photo)

5G has become a fixture of the global mobile market, with the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) reporting that more than 390 operators have now launched commercial 5G networks. But the shift to 5G standalone continues to proceed more slowly: As of October 2026, GSA data shows that fewer than 100 operators (98) had launched 5G SA services. (See 5G SA momentum grows, although 2025 launches remain in single figures.)

During a GSA webinar to discuss 5G trends, Vaishali Purohit, a research analyst with FDM CCS Insight who also works within the GSA research team, said the figures show that standalone deployment "remains a subset of the wider 5G market."

Purohit said many operators continue to operate non-standalone networks, and while 5G SA is advancing, "there remains a considerable opportunity for further deployment."

It's certainly not a straightforward move for operators, especially for those in smaller markets and with more limited budgets. Purohit noted that the shift from a 4G to a 5G core, which is required for an SA network, brings costs and the need for troubleshooting as operators move customers from older to newer networks. "It is a transition that takes time," she said.

However, SA "is important because it allows for features like network slicing," as well as 5G reduced capability (RedCap), "which we are also seeing growing. But for now, SA remains a smaller part of the market. It will be interesting to see how operators balance network investment and the capabilities and services they want to deliver," Purohit said.

RedCap's runway depends on SA and more besides

5G RedCap is designed for devices that do not need the full capabilities of conventional 5G. It aims to balance performance, device complexity and cost, with potential applications including connected cameras and industrial devices.

According to GSA data, 17 operators had launched RedCap services as of September 2026, with four launches during 2026. Purohit said Bharti Airtel in India and Telkomsel in Indonesia are also now deploying 5G RedCap services.

While it needs 5G SA, RedCap adoption also depends on a supporting ecosystem of compatible devices, modules and chipsets, as well as a compelling case for customers to move from established technologies such as LTE and NB-IoT.

5G SA-based FWA faces a coverage and cost test

Meanwhile, operators have already launched 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) without waiting for universal SA deployment. The GSA counted 276 operators with launched 5G FWA services, and said Europe leads at regional level with 108 unique operators having launched a service. (See Europe leads on 5G FWA as fixed wireless remains key value driver.)

LTE-based FWA offers continue to dominate, with 453 launches globally. However, Luke Pearce, principal analyst at FDM CCS Insight and also part of the GSA research team, said the GSA has seen "quite a big transition in our data from LTE to 5G FWA, especially over the last few months. The benefits there are quite stark, particularly for the use cases that FWA provides. You're getting much faster speeds with 5G FWA than you are with LTE FWA, which links to the commercialisation of that."

At the same time, Pearce noted that a greater geographical footprint for 5G SA is required if FWA is to benefit more from specific SA features. "A lot of FWA applications are in areas that don't have fibre coverage … they're rural areas. That's even less likely to have a 5G standalone deployment at the moment," he said.

While 5G FWA can help fill broadband gaps where fiber is unavailable, those locations may also be less likely to have SA coverage today. Pearce added that 5G SA-based FWA requires compatible customer premises equipment (CPE), and that the cost of this equipment can be a barrier.

Pearce also noted that international 5G SA roaming is still nascent since several factors are holding back broader adoption, including the fact that SA is not yet widely deployed across countries or even across all areas within a country.

He added that both the home and visited operator require compatible SA networks, while operators need to set up and test roaming arrangements individually. In other words, making SA roaming commercially viable is more challenging than on non-standalone 5G.

From 5G-Advanced through to D2D, private networks and spectrum

The GSA also provided updates on 5G-Advanced, noting that its data shows that the technology is progressing through investment, testing and commercial deployment. As of October 2026, 41 operators were investing in the technology, while 19 operators had launched a service.

China Unicom in China and U Mobile in Malaysia have both recently launched a 5G-Advanced service. A further five operators are in the testing phase, and one is planning to introduce a 5G-Advanced network in the near future. Asia-Pacific leads with 18 operators investing in the technology. This equates to around 43%.

"As operators continue to develop their networks, 5G-Advanced represents the next phase in the evolution of 5G capabilities. The balance between investment, testing, and launches will be an important indicator to watch as the technology matures," Purohit said.

Satellite connectivity is another area attracting growing interest across the mobile industry, particularly through satellite-to-cell phone (or direct-to-device/D2D) services, Purohit observed.

According to GSA data, 113 operators are investing in D2D connectivity through 123 partnerships. Of these partnerships, 23 have launched a service, while 27 operators are testing their technology or hold licences to do so. A further 73 operators have plans to launch a service. (See Satellite D2D moving into the mainstream for mobile players – GSA.)

"This highlights a market with substantial activity, alongside an increasing number of commercial services. The opportunity extends beyond satellite-to-cell phone connectivity. The GSA also identifies 115 operators investing in other forms of satellite connectivity, including community and enterprise broadband, and IoT and machine-to-machine applications," Purohit said.

Another "important part of the wider 5G story" are mobile private networks, "because they represent deployments tailored to specific organisational requirements, rather than services delivered exclusively through public mobile networks," Purohit said.

As of September 2026, the GSA research catalogued 2,031 organizations deploying private wireless networks, of which 1,001 (49%) were using 5G. Here, the 3.5GHz band is the most widely assigned spectrum, with 482 customer references. Looking at industry adoption, manufacturing is the strongest sector, with 393 identified companies.

Finally, the GSA remarked that spectrum auctions remain an important part of the mobile industry's development. It records 18 completed 5G auctions worldwide in the past year, of which 12 took place in 2026 alone.

"During the third quarter of 2026, five 5G auctions were completed, with an average value of $240.63 million. Looking ahead, eight countries are planning 5G auctions in the near future," Purohit said. Here, she cited Italy as one example, which is looking to auction spectrum in the 26GHz band.

Pearce added that there is still some interest in millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, even if attitudes about its usefulness for 5G have shifted owing to economic realities. "It is still there, but it is very much more of a niche application," such as serving high-capacity demands in urban areas, public venues and private networks, he said.

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