EVOLUTION

FROM LTE
TO 5G

MAY 2020
INTRODUCTION
LTE is a global success, with nearly 5 billion
subscriptions and connecting over 55% of
mobile users worldwide and it is the fastest
developing mobile system technology ever.
LTE is specified by 3GPP as a single global
standard for paired and unpaired spectrum
users. The vast majority of the standard is
the same for FDD and TDD. LTE has evolved
through various 3GPP technology releases
covering the introduction of LTE-Advanced
and then LTE-Advanced Pro that have
significantly improved the capabilities of LTE
networks.
From 3GPP Release 15 onwards, the
community has been defining 5G networks,
starting with Non-Standalone 5G systems
that integrate with existing LTE networks
and then moving on to Standalone 5G
systems with substantially different network
configurations. GSA’s Evolution from LTE
to 5G report provides an independent in-
depth status view and analysis of the global
4G/LTE, LTE-Advanced and 5G markets,
supported by facts, and confirms technology
trends. Information is obtained, analysed
and verified by GSA. The report is published
quarterly and referenced by industry across
the whole ecosystem.
Note that all references to countries/territories in this
document can be read as also including territories,
special administrative regions, disputed territories and
dependencies.
©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association
Key market facts • 156 operators investing in NB-IoT in 75
countries/territories (down on previous
There are: report due to company mergers and
two operators recently retiring NB-
• 9071 operators that have stated plans IoT investments); of these, 107 NB-IoT
to invest or are actively investing in networks are deployed/launched in 58
LTE for public networks, including countries/territories.
those evaluating/testing and trialling
LTE and those paying for suitable • Sixty-eight operators are investing in
spectrum licences (excludes those using LTE-M/Cat-M1 in 39 countries/territories;
technology-neutral licences exclusively of these, 45 LTE-M/Cat-M1 networks are
deployed/commercially launched in 32
for 2G or 3G services).
countries/territories.
• 797 operators running LTE networks
• 385 operators in 125 countries/territories
providing mobile and/or FWA services in
229 countries/territories worldwide. are investing in 5G mobile or 5G FWA/
home broadband networks.
• 212 commercial VoLTE networks in 100
countries/territories and a total of 270 • 95 operators in 50 countries/territories
operators investing in VoLTE in 119 have announced the deployment of 5G
within their live network.
countries/territories.
• 315 deployed/launched LTE-Advanced • 80 operators in 42 countries/territories
networks in 142 countries/territories. have announced 3GPP 5G service
Overall, 352 operators are investing launches (or limited service launches).
in LTE-Advanced technology in 151
countries/territories.
• Twelve launched networks that support
user equipment (UE) at Cat-18 DL speeds
within limited geographic areas and five of
these supporting Cat-19 (in a limited area).
• 2342 operators with TDD licences suitable
for LTE and at least 165# operators are
known to be actively using the spectrum
(either deploying services or have
launched LTE-TDD networks).
1 This number has been restated since previous reports
as we have removed companies from our count that have
historically announced investment plans, but where we can
see no evidence of development, and where companies
have closed, been acquired or have relinquished spectrum.
2 This number has been restated since the last report
reflecting the removal of companies from the database
that have been acquired, have closed, have lost licences, or
have relinquished spectrum.
Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 2
LTE deployments
The drivers of LTE, LTE-Advanced, LTE- Figure 1: Growth of LTE: Net number of mobile operators launching LTE networks each
Advanced Pro and, increasingly, 5G for year and cumulative (including mobile and FWA networks)
operators are more capacity, enhanced
performance and improved efficiencies
to lower delivery cost. Compared with
3G, LTE offered a big step up in the user
experience, enhancing demanding apps
such as interactive TV, video blogging,
advanced gaming and professional services.
Deployment of LTE-Advanced technologies
– and particularly carrier aggregation – took
performance to a new level and became a
major focus of the industry.

Interest in LTE-Advanced Pro is high too,

bringing with it new, globally standardised
LPWA solutions – LTE Cat-M1 (LTE-M, eMTC)
and Cat-NB1 (NB-IoT) – and new business
opportunities. And while LTE-Advanced
and LTE-Advanced Pro solutions have yet to
be deployed by the majority of operators,
There are now relatively few LTE not-spots not-spots are remote island territories and
vendors and network operators are already
(i.e. countries/territories with no launched states or are countries/territories in Africa:
investing in 5G and its potential to meet
LTE network of any kind, whether mobile or Central African Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial
future capacity, connectivity and service
broadband fixed wireless) left in the world. Guinea, Eritrea, Mauritania, South Sudan and
requirements.
Cabo Verde and Cuba both gained new LTE Western Sahara. One other notable LTE not-

LTE global status networks in late 2019. Most remaining LTE spot is North Korea.

By 2020, LTE had reached into almost

every part of the world. By May 2020, Figure 2: Countries/territories with no identified commercial LTE network for mobile or
GSA had identified 797 operators running broadband fixed wireless services
LTE networks providing mobile and/or
fixed wireless broadband services in 229
countries/territories worldwide. GSA is
aware of at least another 1103 companies
actively trialling or investing in LTE for public
networks.

3 This number has been restated since previous reports

as we have removed companies from our count that have
historically announced investment plans, but where we can
see no evidence of development.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 3
Spectrum
Spectrum for LTE deployments
Pressure for spectrum is high and Band 3 (1800 MHz) global status
operators need to deploy the most efficient
LTE network deployment in the 1800 MHz Band 3 is not widely being evaluated for
technologies available. LTE, LTE-Advanced
(Band 3) is now common throughout Europe, 5G at this stage. GSA is aware of only four
and LTE-Advanced Pro services can be
APAC, MEA, and regions of South America. operators in four countries/territories that
deployed in dozens of spectrum bands
In fact, usage of 1800 MHz is now almost have been testing 5G at 1800 MHz.
starting at 450 MHz and rising to nearly 6
universal on a national basis in Europe
GHz. The most-used bands in commercial Auctions of Band 3 spectrum are expected
and Asia. There are 416 companies in 158
LTE networks are: 1800 MHz (Band 3), which in the future in India, Kosovo, Portugal,
countries/territories with licences enabling
is a mainstream choice for LTE in most Slovakia.
them to deploy LTE in Band 3 (excluding
regions; 800 MHz and 850 MHz (Bands 20
those with technology-neutral licences
and 5, plus regional variations for Japan)
that have used the spectrum for 2G or 3G
for extending coverage and improving in-
networks). At least 381 operators (around
building services; 2.6 GHz (FDD Band 7) as
48% of all LTE network operators) in 156
a major capacity band; and 700 MHz (with
countries/territories have launched LTE
variations in spectrum allocated around the
services using spectrum in Band 3.
world) again for coverage improvement.

The now-completed LTE standards enable

the possibility to extend the benefits of Figure 3: Countries/territories with deployed/launched LTE Band 3 networks (including
LTE-Advanced to unlicensed and shared fully mobile and FWA networks)
spectrum. There are several options for
deploying LTE in unlicensed spectrum. The
GSA report LTE in Unlicensed and Shared
Spectrum: Trials, Deployments and Devices
gives details of market progress in the use
of LAA, eLAA, LTE-U, LWA as well as new
activity in the CBRS band.

Many recent allocations/auctions of LTE-

relevant spectrum have focused on licensing
unused spectrum – including pockets of
spectrum in the 2–4 GHz range, but also
at lower frequencies – for LTE and future
5G services. This spectrum is sometimes
dedicated to LTE, sometimes to 5G and
sometimes assigned on a technology-
neutral basis.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 4
Bands 5 and 20 (800 and 850 MHz) global
status

• The range of spectrum between 800 MHz Figure 4: Countries/territories that are known to have licensed operators to use Band 5,
and 900 MHz is firmly established as a Band 18, Band 19, or Band 20 for LTE
mainstream frequency range for LTE.

• Within this range, Band 20: (832–862

MHz/791–821 MHz) is the most used band,
with 225 operators investing in LTE using
this frequency range, including 198 that are
understood to have launched networks,
25 other licensed operators and two more
planning networks.

• In addition, GSA has identified 65 operators

that have invested in LTE Band 5 (824–849
MHz/869–894 MHz). Of those, at least 34
have launched their networks, 27 others
have licences to operate their LTE networks
at 850 MHz and four more have been
identified as running tests/trials or planning
deployment.

Like Band 3, Bands 5 and 20 have not, so far,

been widely evaluated for 5G. GSA is aware
of a single operator that has conducted 5G
tests using spectrum in this range. Figure 5: Countries/territories with launched Band 7 LTE networks (including fully
mobile and FWA networks)
Auctions of spectrum between 800 MHz and
900 MHz are expected in the near future
in Australia, India, Kosovo, Romania, South
Africa and Ukraine.

Band 7 (2.6 GHz) global status

The 2.6 GHz band (Band 7) is also very

widely licensed and deployed. There are
232 companies in 92 countries/territories
licensed to deploy LTE in Band 7 (excluding
those with technology-neutral licences
that have used the spectrum for 2G or
3G networks). It is used in at least 189
commercial networks in 85 countries/
territories (number reduced since the last
report due to the closure of a small FWA
operator in Bangladesh).

Auctions concerned with Band 7 are
scheduled to take place in Belgium, Israel,
Kosovo, Myanmar and Portugal. A number
of other countries/territories (Bangladesh,
Ecuador, India, and South Africa) also have
upcoming auctions of spectrum in this range,
but the decision about whether they will be
assigning Bands 7 and 38, or Band 41 is yet
to be confirmed by GSA.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 5
 Bands 12, 13, 14, 17 and 28
(700 MHz)
After the 2.6 GHz band, the next
most widely licensed FDD bands are
in the 700 MHz spectrum range, with
200 operators investing in LTE across
the key 700 MHz bands:
• 101 operators have been identified as
investing in APT 700 MHz spectrum (Band
28: 703–748/758–803 FDD), including 99
with licences, and 57 GSA has identified as
having launched commercial LTE services in
this band.
• GSA has also identified 99 operators
investing in LTE in one of the American 700
MHz bands (Bands 12, 13 ,14 or 17, between
them covering 75 MHz within 699 MHz and
798 MHz). Of those, 81 have used one of
the bands to launch their LTE network.
Spectrum at 700 MHz is widely being
evaluated for 5G. Seventeen operators
have been licensed to use 700 MHz for 5G,
of which three are deploying and two are
understood to have launched 5G using
spectrum at 700 MHz (AIS Thailand and
Vodafone Germany). Another seven are
evaluating or planning 5G at 700 MHz. We
can expect to see rapid change here as 700
MHz has been identified by the EU as one of
the 5G pioneer bands. Thirty-five countries/
territories are known to be planning to
auction/assign spectrum at 700 MHz in the
next couple of years.
©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association
Figure 6: Countries/territories/territories that are known to have licensed operators to
use the APT/CEPT or North American 700 MHz bands
LTE-TDD global status both FDD and TDD modes in their networks.
LTE-TDD is an integral part of the 3GPP
LTE is an open standard developed by 3GPP.
standard, implementing a maximum of
The advanced technological performance of
commonalities with LTE-FDD and offering
LTE came with in-built flexibility to operate
comparable performance and similar high-
in either paired (FDD, or Frequency Division
spectral efficiency.
Duplexing, mode) or unpaired (TDD, or Time
GSA has identified 2341 operators that hold
Division Duplexing mode) spectrum and
spectrum licences enabling them to launch
various channel bandwidths, all with a single
LTE-TDD services. Of those, 1651 operators
technology. The emphasis was always to
are deploying or have launched TD-LTE
leverage synergies between the two duplex
networks.
modes to the largest extent possible. This
allows operators to best utilise their current TDD spectrum in Band 38 (75 licences1) is the
network assets, spectrum allocations and most commonly licensed for LTE, followed by
various bandwidth needs, while securing spectrum in Bands 42 (69 licences) and 40
support, choice and economies of scale from (561 licences).
the global vendor ecosystem, and to limit
potential market fragmentation. The result is
major commonality of the LTE specifications
for the FDD and TDD modes – in fact, the
vast majority of the LTE standard is identical
for both modes – and the huge global
success of LTE.
Most LTE deployments use paired spectrum
1 This number has been restated since
(FDD). The LTE-TDD mode is complementary
the last report reflecting the removal of
and the perfect choice for providing high-
companies from the database that have
speed mobile broadband access in unpaired
been acquired, have closed, have lost
spectrum. Many operators have deployed
licences, or have relinquished spectrum.
Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 6
The importance of TDD will grow. TDD bands Figure 7 Distribution of spectrum licences for TD-LTE (includes regional and national
are now being assigned and deployed for 5G licences, mobile or broadband FWA networks, spectrum not necessarily in active use)
as well as TD-LTE.

For a full analysis of recent activity related

to licensing of spectrum (including key
TDD bands), see GSA’s report: Spectrum
for Terrestrial 5G Networks: Licensing
Developments Worldwide, published January
2020.

* Four deployments are subject

to confirmation

VoLTE global
status
Figure 8: Countries/territories with launched VoLTE networks

In total GSA has identified 270 operators

investing in VoLTE in 119 countries/
territories, including 212 operators that
have launched VoLTE voice services in 100
countries/territories.

Since the last edition of this report GSA

has identified launches in Bangladesh,
Dominican Republic, Namibia and Nepal.

GSA is aware of at least 29 other operators

deploying VoLTE and 31 other operators
planning VoLTE or are testing/trialling the
technology.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 7
LTE-Advanced
global status
Investment in LTE-Advanced networks Figure 9: Countries/territories with launched LTE-Advanced networks
continues to grow. By May 2020, there
were 315 deployed/commercially launched
LTE-Advanced networks in 142 countries/
territories. Overall, 352 operators are
investing in LTE-Advanced (in the form of
tests, trials, deployments or commercial
service provision) in 151 countries/
territories.

Many operators with LTE-Advanced networks

are looking to extend their capabilities by
adding 3GPP Release 13 or Release 14 LTE-
Advanced Pro features, e.g. those making
use of carrier aggregation of large numbers
of channels, or carriers across TDD and FDD Figure 10: Fastest commercial LTE-Advanced networks per country, expressed in terms
modes, LAA, massive MIMO, Mission-Critical of DL UE Category supported
Push-to-Talk, LTE Cat-NB1/NB-IoT or LTE-M/
Cat-M1.

The GSA report LTE in Unlicensed and

Shared Spectrum: Trials, Deployments and
Devices tracks the progress of LAA/eLAA,
LWA and LTE-U. By May 2020, there were 36
operators investing in LAA (including nine
deployed/launched networks), 12 operators
investing in LTE-U (including three launched/
deployed networks) and three investing in
LWA (including one launched network). One
operator had undertaken trials of eLAA.

The figures for NB-IoT and LTE-M networks

are reported elsewhere in this document.

We also track reported fastest downlink category 19. The wide variation in downlink Note also that some operators report
speeds in commercially launched LTE- speeds is unsurprising, as operators theoretical downlink speeds, others report
Advanced networks. There is a wide around the world have different amounts live-network tested speeds. GSA carried out
variation, as shown in Figure 10. of spectrum (numbers of carriers and a detailed analysis of the development of
bandwidth of those carriers) that they can Gigabit LTE in its paper Progress to Gigabit
The number of commercial networks
aggregate to increase maximum throughput. LTE Networks, available on the GSA website.
capable of delivering peak theoretical DL
They also vary in terms of their deployment
throughout equivalent to Cat-18 DL speeds
of additional features such as the use of
in selected areas stands at twelve, and five
256QAM modulation and 4x4 MIMO and in
of these networks are understood to be
their use of unlicensed spectrum.
capable of delivering download speeds in
at least one location equivalent to device

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 8
 Figure 11: Distribution of LTE-Advanced networks by UE category (base: 315 networks)
Figure 11 shows the percentage of LTE-
Advanced networks (for which we have data)
that support each UE category.

Note that where we have no confirmed

speed data, we assume that the network is
at least UE Cat 4 and is categorised as such
below.

Carrier aggregation has been the dominant

feature of LTE-Advanced networks. Varying
numbers of carriers and varying amounts
of total bandwidth have been aggregated
in trials and demos, but in commercial
networks, the greatest number of carriers
aggregated (where we have data) is five.

IoT global
status
NB-IoT and LTE-M networks have become Figure 12: Launched cellular IoT networks by type

widely available worldwide.

By the end of May 2020, 107 operators in 58

countries/territories had deployed/launched
NB-IoT networks, with new launches
identified in Lithuania and Liechtenstein
since the last issue of this report. At that
point, there were 156 operators investing
in NB-IoT in 75 countries/territories. The
number of investors has fallen following
company mergers and the withdrawal of two
operators from the NB-IoT market.

There are 68 operators investing in LTE-M

networks in 39 countries/territories. Of
those, 45 operators have deployed/launched
LTE-M networks in 32 countries/territories,
with launches in the UK and USA identified
since the last issue of this report.

Altogether 60 countries/territories now have

at least either a launched NB-IoT network or
a launched LTE-M network and 30 of those
countries/territories have both network
types.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 9
5G global status
GSA has identified 385 operators in 125 Figure 13: Countries/territories with operators known to be investing in 5G
countries/territories that have either
launched, are deploying, are licensed to
deploy, have demonstrated, are testing or
trialling, or have been licensed to conduct
field trials of 5G-enabling and candidate
technologies. The spread of global activity is
shown in Figure 13.

GSA has identified 95 operators in 50

countries/territories that have stated
that they have activated one or more 5G
sites within their live commercial network
(excludes those that have only deployed
temporary test sites, but includes those that
are running pilots on deployed commercial-
ready equipment). The number that have
announced the launch of commercial GSA knows of 80 operators in 42 countries/ of the year. GSA has identified 72 operators

services remains lower, although now that territories who have (as of May 2020) providing commercial 5G mobile services (six

operators are able to source significant announced 3GPP-compatible 5G service with limited availability) and 38 operators

numbers of 5G devices and types, a launches (either mobile or FWA), some with with 5G FWA/wireless broadband services

market blockage has been removed, and limited availability, up by 29% since the start (seven with limited availability).

the number of service launches is growing

quickly. Figure 14: Operators’ 5G network investments by status

GSA has identified 283 announced devices

(including regional variants, but not
prototypes) and at least 97 of these are now
available for customers to buy and use, up
36% and over 61% respectively since the
start of 2020. See GSA’s report 5G Device
Ecosystem, published monthly, for more
details.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 10
Figure 15 shows the countries/territories Figure 15: Earliest expected 5G commercial launch dates (includes mobile or FWA,
and current planned dates for the earliest includes limited availability launches)
5G launches in those countries/territories.
We have only included countries/territories
where operators have announced their
plans, not countries/territories where
governments have made general statements
of intent.

GSA will continue tracking the progress of

5G deployments worldwide. This report will
be updated in a few months’ time. For detail
about planned 5G spectrum allocations
please see GSA’s latest edition of 5G
Spectrum for Terrestrial Networks: Licensing
Developments Worldwide, published January
2020.

©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association Evolution from LTE to 5G | May 2020 | 11
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©Global mobile Suppliers Association. 2020