Spirent Communications, a provider of test and assurance solutions for devices and networks, has unveiled its fifth annual 5G outlook report, offering insights into the future of 5G based on analysis from over 500 global 5G engagements in 2023.
Titled “5G 2024: Market Drivers, Insights & Considerations,” the report delves into trends, geographical disparities, and the potential trajectory of 5G.
Interested parties can access the report via www.spirent.com/5Greport.
Last year witnessed delays in 5G Standalone (SA) network deployments due to technical hurdles in deploying and integrating new, cloud-native 5G Core technologies.
However, 2024 promises acceleration in the market, with increasing demand for 5G SA capabilities aligning with the supply of network equipment and devices. Douglas anticipates a surge in demand for next-generation 5G SA capabilities, marking the journey towards 5G Advanced.
Key trends highlighted in the report include:
5G SA and the new core: Despite a sluggish start in 2023, there’s a notable uptick in commercial 5G SA acceleration for 2024. Operators are increasingly investing in testing solutions like Spirent’s Landslide 5G core test solution to optimize power consumption and explore new revenue-generating services.
5G SA as a catalyst for digital transformation: The transition to 5G SA is driving network and OSS digital transformation initiatives, particularly in automation across the network lifecycle. DevOps and agile practices like continuous testing are gaining traction among service providers.
Device and handset service experience testing: There’s a doubling of engagements focused on testing the performance and experience of new services, especially immersive voice and video, as operators prepare to launch consumer and enterprise private network offerings.
Transport network testing: Operators are upgrading their transport networks to accommodate the significant increase in traffic, with refresh cycles for IP Core backbones and upgrades in cell site gateways and aggregation sites.
Non-Terrestrial Network testing: The report highlights increased testing of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks to understand performance capabilities and address technical and regulatory challenges.
Private 5G testing: Interest in early Release 17 capabilities is growing, with commercial private network implementations delivering ROI in as early as six months. Simplified deployment models like network-in-a-box (NIB) are gaining traction.
The report also identifies emerging trends such as the growth of 5G Standalone deployments, the proliferation of private 5G networks, and the rise of Open and Virtual RAN. Additionally, it anticipates advancements in 5G Advanced, with Releases 18 and 19 targeting a wider range of industry use cases and incorporating AI within the network.
