5G News Round Up for the Week to 19 January 2025

The past week has seen significant developments across the global 5G landscape, with major policy initiatives in Europe and Asia, new infrastructure partnerships in Africa, and continued evolution of network deployments worldwide. Key themes include regulatory reforms to accelerate 5G adoption, infrastructure sharing initiatives to expand rural coverage, and the growing intersection of 5G with emerging technologies like AI and IoT.

Policy & Regulation

The GSMA has called for urgent policy reforms in Europe to address the region’s lagging 5G adoption compared to other advanced markets. While Europe’s 5G connections currently stand at 30% versus a global average of 24%, adoption rates trail North America, East Asia and Gulf states. The industry body projects 80% adoption and €164 billion economic boost by 2030, but warns regulatory changes are needed to drive investment and maintain competitiveness.

In Malaysia, regulators continue implementing their dual-network strategy with U Mobile securing financing from CIMB Bank for the country’s second nationwide 5G network. This follows the government’s 2023 shift away from a single wholesale network approach, with state-founded Digital Nasional Berhad targeting 85% population coverage through the existing network.

Infrastructure & Coverage

A significant infrastructure sharing deal was announced between Orange and Vodacom in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to expand rural connectivity to approximately 19 million people. The 20-year joint venture will deploy 1,000 solar-powered base stations initially, with plans to double that number, supporting 2G and 4G services for voice, data and mobile financial services.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continues gaining momentum globally, with Dell’Oro Group forecasting equipment spending to exceed $48 billion over the next five years. Growth is being driven by residential expansion in North America and India, alongside increasing enterprise adoption. Total FWA revenue grew 7% year-on-year in 2024 to reach $8.5 billion.

Enterprise & Innovation

The enterprise segment saw several developments aimed at expanding 5G applications. HPE unveiled new wireless network and IoT innovations under its Aruba Networking portfolio, targeting retail sector improvements in areas like warehouse management and customer service. AT&T launched a new IoT sensor kit specifically designed for small-to-medium enterprises, aiming to democratize access to IoT capabilities.

Suggested Reading

GSMA: Europe at 5G Crossroads
Highlight: Comprehensive analysis of Europe’s 5G adoption challenges and policy recommendations

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/gsma/policy-changes-urged-for-europe-to-close-5g-gap/

Dell’Oro Group: FWA Market Outlook
Highlight: Detailed forecast of Fixed Wireless Access market growth through 2027

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/delloro-forecasts-fwa-spend-to-top-48b/

Orange-Vodacom Rural Coverage Initiative
Highlight: Innovative infrastructure sharing model for expanding rural connectivity

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/middle-east-and-north-africa/orange-vodacom-strike-africa-towerco-jv/

Malaysia’s Dual 5G Network Strategy
Highlight: Evolution of national 5G deployment approach and financing

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/operators/u-mobile-secures-funding-for-second-5g-network/

HPE Retail Innovation
Highlight: New solutions combining 5G, IoT and AI for retail transformation

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/industry/hpe-unveils-range-for-retail-wan-iot/