Expansion of 5G Base Stations Across the Globe: Explaining the Causes
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet has become a necessity for the majority of the global population, with over 4.66 billion active users worldwide as of January 2021, accounting for 59.5% of the global population [1]. As the demand for efficient networks and speedy connectivity grows, countries worldwide are adopting changes to strengthen their networking systems, particularly in the 5G race.
China, with its aggressive infrastructure rollout, has taken the lead in global 5G deployment. By the end of 2020, China had registered the deployment of around 690,000 5G base stations, covering over 90% of urban areas [2]. Major telecom companies like China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom have been driving this growth, building thousands of base stations monthly. As a result, China holds the second position in 5G network deployment, having recorded the maximum deployment in 2020 [2]. By 2025, China will have more than a quarter of all cellular devices connected to 5G networks, accounting for one-third of all global 5G connections [2].
The United States follows closely behind China in 5G deployment. The U.S. had invested approximately $35 billion in 5G infrastructure by 2023, with major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile expanding coverage using C-band and millimeter-wave spectrum [2]. Europe and North America are forecast to lead in the global 5G base station industry, mainly due to the well-established networking infrastructure in the regions.
India and Brazil are also rapidly expanding their 5G base station deployments. India showed rapid growth starting from the launch of 5G services by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. By mid-2024, India had deployed around 448.7 thousand 5G base transceiver stations, reflecting a growth of more than 24 times within less than two years [3]. Brazil conducted a multi-band 5G spectrum auction in late 2021 with commitments totaling $8.5 billion. By early 2025, major operators like Telefónica Brasil (Vivo) had deployed over 17,000 5G cell sites, serving tens of millions of users [4].
Other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, have also joined the 5G race. Japan launched 5G mobile service in 2020, and India plans to introduce 5G services in the country, with Jio announcing plans for a 2021 launch [2]. The evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the technical barriers due to critical communication services will benefit the global 5G base station industry.
The global 5G base station market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 60% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2027 [2]. The growth of 5G will create opportunities for various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and automotive, to enhance their services. The 5G network base station architecture includes a 5G base station power amplifier, which converts RF antenna signals to BUU cabinets, and the 5G base station antenna performs functions like transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals to connected devices [2].
The growing trend of interconnected and wearable devices is forecast to offer potential scope to the market players in the industry. Statista estimates that the number of 5G connections in North America is forecast to reach 10 million by 2025 [2]. As the world continues to embrace the digital age, the importance of 5G infrastructure will only increase, connecting more devices and enabling faster, more efficient communication.
References: 1. Statista - Number of active internet users worldwide from 2017 to 2025 2. [Various sources compiled from bullet points provided] 3. TelecomTalk - India's 5G rollout: 448.7 thousand 5G base transceiver stations deployed by mid-2024 4. Brazil's 5G rollout: Over 17,000 5G cell sites deployed by early 2025
Data-and-cloud computing technologies are crucial in managing and optimizing the massive amounts of data generated by the increasing number of connected devices on 5G networks. The growing adoption of 5G networks worldwide necessitates advances in technology to handle the unprecedented data traffic, ensuring seamless connectivity, low latency, and high capacity.
