There is a growing gulf between the way that 5G networks were expected to be deployed and monetized, and operators’ actual plans, at least in the short term. Many commentators, ourselves included, have modelled the scenarios and argued that 5G can only be justified with new revenue streams, enabled by new approaches to build-out. However, Rethink’s latest survey of operators’ 5G deployment plans, which achieved response from about 70 MNOs, reveals that, the closer commercial launches come, the more conservative are the roadmaps. One year ago, over 50% of Tier 1 and 2 operators said they planned to deploy 5G initially to densify targeted areas of high data consumption, and would either defer macro layer roll-out for a few years,…