Upin Dattani, Senior Manager for Europe at GlobalData Technology, commented: "Some mobile markets, such as South Korea and Japan, are well-suited to 5G, with ample fiber availability, small cell deployments, advanced 4G networks, and supportive regulators.
"In Europe, companies are eager to obtain a good return on investment in 3G and 4G networks. Meanwhile, European operators will be able to provide the best service for their customers."
Some pre-standard 5G network trials are taking place in 2017 around the world, with a few standardized commercial services starting in 2018 and many more operators launching over the next two years.
“Beyond Increased Bandwidth and Capacity”
The analyst states that 5G will, for the first time, surpass bandwidth and capacity, as was the goal in previous generations of wireless networks, adding low latency, high density, and high reliability. These capabilities will enable a variety of use cases, opening the door to new, predominantly business-focused services such as autonomous vehicles and smart cities.
GlobalData commented: “5G also supports the enterprise focus.”
Peter Jarich, Chief Analyst at GlobalData Technology, added: “Hopes for 5G’s potential to truly transform mobile business models and unlock new revenue opportunities are waning. The implications extend beyond any single operator to impact national and regional competitiveness.
It is important to recognize that 5G deployment will take several years; no region or country has won or lost the 5G race yet.”
