Deployment of base stations by new and alternative cellular operators 2019-2025

A critical difference between mobile network deployments in the 5G era, and those in preceding generations, will be the diversity of organizations building, managing and monetizing them.

For the first time, in the 5G era, major deployments of cellular networks will be made by non-MNOs. By 2025, although traditional operators will still dominate capex spending on wide area macro networks, almost one-third of budget on greenfield, localized and indoor networks will be spent by new entrants.

This report from Rethink Technology Research’s RAN Research service, entitled “RAN investment growth will rely on alternative deployers” and subtitled “Deployment of base stations by new and alternative cellular operators 2019-2025,” provides a roadmap for how this will play out.

This forecast, constructed by our head of research Caroline Gabriel, one of the most experienced and respected analysts working in the cellular field today, shows how capex from the usual suspects will continue to fall (-4%) each year to 2025, and it highlights which sectors, in which regions, will help pick up the slack, as new customers spend hard to get into the 5G market from a standing start.
Cumulatively to 2025 the industry will spend $51.8bn, and 43% of that will be invested by alternative operators.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Altice USA, AT&T, Bosch, Charter, Com-cast, Crown Castle, DenseAIR, Digital Colony, Dish Network, Free mobile, Iliad, iWireless, SK Telekom, Rakuten, Reliance Jio, Zayo

For more information contact:

John Constant
Business Specialist Director
[email protected]
Office +44 (0)1794 521411