Global technology superpowers China, the USA and Japan are set to have the highest number of 5G connections - with new research indicating that the trio of nations will lead the way by 2025. A report into which was conducted by Juniper Research - predicts that the three countries will account for 55% of all 5G connections by then.
Juniper also projects that 5G operator-billed service revenues will reach $269 billion by 2025, which would represent a significant increase from the estimated $851 million it's expected to amass in 2019. In broad terms, 5G would achieve a 161% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) over the first seven years of 5G services.
The first 5G services are expected to be deployed next year, with a number of companies currently conducting trials and testing of the next-generation technology which is set to revolutionize the ICT sector. Qualcomm's CEO has claimed that 5G will have an impact similar to that of the introduction of electricity.
The findings of Juniper's Research report which is entitled - 5G Market Strategies: Consumer & Enterprise Opportunities & Forecasts 2017-2025 has made for compelling reading, but doubts and uncertainty remain over the deployment of 5G, as the standardization for the next-generation technology has still not been established.
However, the research compiled is based on the latest market data and takes into account the accelerated status of current operator and vendor developments. Network launches are now expected to be launched in 2019, which is a year earlier than originally planned and anticipated. Juniper identified SK Telecom, NTT DOCOMO, KT Corp, China Mobile and AT&T Mobility as the ‘most promising' 5G network operators.
South Korean operator, SK Telecom ranked No.1 in the study due to the extent of 5G trials over the last two years in areas such as MIMO, transmission, network slicing and millimeter wave spectrum. The ranking system implemented by Juniper included analysis of time in development, breadth and the value of partnerships and progression of 5G network testing.
In addition to this, Juniper projected that around 66% of all 5G operator-billed revenues would come from North America, the Far East and China by 2025. Juniper stressed that 5G spectrum auctions which have already commenced in some locations - and infrastructure build-out costs would necessitate a diverse range of strategies in a bid to maximize operator return on investment. It has been suggested that this need has been compounded by the ongoing fall of average revenues per connection.