The concept of 5G services have yet to be fully-defined. Nevertheless, Juniper Research has forecast the rapid adoption for 5G mobile technologies starting in 2025, with active connections representing a threefold increase from 2024 to reach 240 million potential subscribers.
However, this 5G deployment will likely represent a very limited global reach -- initially accounting for approximately just 3 percent of all mobile connections across the globe.
Juniper found that the many advantages of 5G -- such as higher data rates, longer battery life, greater user/device support, and reduced latency -- should result in an ideal environment for the proliferation of new mobile internet applications.
That said, 5G will likely include a complex set of standardization activities during the next 5 years, long before the first roll-out of commercial services around 2020. Besides, the latest Juniper market study observed that obtaining the radio spectrum in each market will be a key to progress.
"It is critical to 5G success that the most feasible and appropriate spectrum bands are assigned, not only to support existing high bandwidth and capacity requirements, but also the wide ranging devices and applications contributing towards the Internet of Everything," said Nitin Bhas, head of research at Juniper Research.
While it has not yet been confirmed which radio frequency bands are going to be utilized for 5G by network operators, the twin issues that need to be surmounted are the timing and cost of the spectrum. These issues will play pivotal roles in deciding the speed of worldwide 5G deployment.
Juniper expects Japan and South Korea to be among the first countries to launch commercial 5G wireless services. A number of network operators from this region have chosen their suppliers and set a commercial service date.
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness a very high rate of growth in connections, similar to that of North America, according to the latest Juniper market assessment.
While none of the U.S. operators have made any public announcements regarding 5G trials or pilots, Juniper believes that given its prior 4G leadership, the U.S. will follow the Far East and China in 5G service deployment and adoption.
