Accelerating 5G Standalone Networks: Key Trends Through 2024 and Beyond

As business and consumer interest in generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) rises, some of 5G’s most talked about features, URLLCs enable market-shaping applications like factory automation, autonomous vehicles (AVs), and other technologies that will transform how we live and work. Yet, although 5G service across the U.S. rose from 68.4% in Q3 2023 to 76.7% in Q1 2024, the transformative potential of 5G and URLLCs is just now beginning to be unlocked. While a mix of non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) deployments and vendor lock has hampered 5G’s potential, times have changed.

Even though emerging technologies like AI are taking up a lion’s share of the attention right now, deployments of 5G standalone (SA) and 5G private networks are putting this technology back on the front burner. Here’s how.

A Boom in 5G Standalone (SA)

5G standalone (SA) refers to a type of 5G network deployment that operates independently of any existing 4G LTE infrastructure. These standalone networks enable the full utilization of 5G’s capabilities, especially around ultra-low latency, higher data rates, and vastly improved throughput. In this way, it provides better support for machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and the IoT than 5G NSA networks. As a result, previously hyped real-world applications involving industrial automation, autonomous vehicles (AVs), smart cities, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and the IoT are finally more possible than ever.

Most importantly, because 5G standalone (SA) architecture leverages a 5G core network built on a cloud-native design, it can support network slicing. This feature enables network operators to create multiple virtual networks within a single physical 5G deployment. As we’ve discussed in a previous blog post, each slice can then be tailored to meet the specific and potentially contrasting quality of service (QoS) requirements of different services or customers, all on the same network. As a result, 5G slicing can increase revenue (addressing the perennial issue of monetizing 5G) by allowing operators to differentiate their services according to customer demand while maintaining a high-quality experience for all users.

As an article in The Fast Mode recently noted, moving from 5G NSA to 5G standalone (SA) networks is no easy feat, but service provider adoption of 5G standalone (SA) is currently three to five times greater than the adoption rate of older network generations. One of the biggest reasons for that adoption rate has to do with a much more mature 5G ecosystem. Here are a few key statistics highlighted in the article:

• There are now over 17 5G core network vendors
• There are now over 89 5G SA modems and chipsets readily available on today’s market
• There are almost 1,750 device types (smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, etc.) that can support 5G SA

The article also highlights that 5G SA now spans 51 live commercial networks worldwide, with more than 120 operators across 55 markets currently investing in it. Per a LightReading survey, the mobile industry “is now on the threshold of large-scale SA adoption,” which will provide the critical mass needed for 5G to proliferate at scale through 2030.

The Rise of 5G Private Networks

Unlike public 5G networks, which mobile network operators use to serve multiple subscribers, private 5G networks are tailored to meet the specific needs of individual businesses and their facilities, including manufacturing plants, airports, hospitals or campuses. Multiple models for designing and deploying private 5G networks exist, including wholly owned and operated deployments, hybrid private-public cloud 5G networks, and private 5G delivered via network slicing.

No matter where a private 5G network interfaces with a public one to provide connectivity to the internet, it gives businesses greater control over how they prioritize activities in a way that ensures optimal bandwidth availability. Additionally, private 5G networks offer businesses with sensitive data an added layer of security, providing peace of mind and helping them stay in compliance with any regulations or best practices their industry compels them to adhere to.

According to a recent article from Capacity Magazine, private 5G networks are finally “ready to step out of the shadow of commercial networks.” Per Analysis Mason, there will be over 60,000 private 5G networks by 2028, up from just 4,000 in 2022. Commercial adoption of these networks is being driven in large part by interest in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and the IoT to improve business processes.

5G Deployments Made Easier Through Key Partnerships

When it comes to 5G, 2024 is turning out to be an excellent year. In many ways, 5G has been under the microscope for a while – promising higher data rates, ultra-low latency, and better reliability and throughput, yet facing adoption challenges and market uncertainties. However, the confluence of widespread interest in AI and the IoT (and all the potential applications they support) and the emergence of a more mature 5G ecosystem has brought this technology roaring back to the forefront.

In practical terms, moving from 4G to 5G standalone (SA) to private networks and beyond requires careful preparation, design, hardware, and engineering due diligence along with a robust, reliable Layer 1 solution that will enable a 5G network to perform as desired. At Precision OT, we can help. We not only provide the transceivers, fiber jumpers, DWDM mux/demuxes, rackmounts, fiber management trays and breakout panels needed for successful outside and inside plant deployments, but also the systems engineering knowledge to ensure all components fit and work together efficiently. Our complete Layer 1 5G solution features a flexible, modular portfolio that can be customized to your 5G deployment needs. In other words, if you have questions or challenges, we have answers and solutions. Contact us today!