The State of 5G 2024
Introducing the
GSMA Intelligence
5G Connectivity Index

Copyright © 2024 GSMA Intelligence

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Authors
Francisco Amaya, Economist, GSMA Intelligence
Kalvin Bahia, Principal Economist, GSMA Intelligence
Published February 2024

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Contents
Executive summary1 Introduction

2
6

Background and context

6

Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

11

2 The 5G Connectivity Index

12

Index framework

12

5G Connectivity Index scores

14

Cluster analysis

173	Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

19

5G is already providing an enhanced user experience, in part due tothe assignment of key spectrum bands
19
5G is becoming more affordable, especially in emerging markets21

5G deployments are not yet complete, especially 5G SA

23

5G FWA has the potential to be a bigger success story

24

5G market development is still in its early stages

24

4 Conclusion

1

Contents

27

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Executive
summary
The number of 5G connections worldwide surpassed 1.5 billion at theend of 2023, four years after the arrival of the technology, making it thefastest-growing mobile broadband technology to date. However, despite
this progress, a new digital divide is starting to emerge between highincome and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Furthermore, evenin countries with 5G, the technology has not yet realised its full potential interms of digital transformation, economic impact and commercial value. Thishighlights the imperative for strategic interventions, enabling policies andtargeted investments to ensure the evolution of 5G everywhere.
Against this backdrop, GSMA Intelligence haslaunched the 5G Connectivity Index (5GI) to
help enable increased coverage, adoption, usage
and market development.1 The 5GI provides acomprehensive assessment of 5G in 39 markets,
offering valuable insights for informed decision-

making and investment by the mobile ecosystemand policymakers. It is constructed around two
categories, 5G infrastructure and 5G services, which
are divided into six pillars, which are in turn made up
of 17 indicators.

1

The 5GI is available at the following link: https://gsmaintelligence.com/5g-index
https://gsmaintelligence.com/5g-index. The webtool provides overall index scores as well as the underlying score for each indicator anda market comparison tool.

2

Executive summary

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure i

5G Connectivity Index structure: categories, pillars and indicators
5G Infrastructure

Spectrum

Network

ExperienceLow-band spectrum

5G base stations

Download speeds

Mid-band spectrum

5G coverage*

Upload speeds

mmWave spectrum

5G standalone

Latencies

Video quality

5G services

Affordability

Adoption

Market development

5G data affordability**

5G subscriber penetration

Data traffic per user

5G device affordability

5G device shipments

Revenue growth

5G FWA penetration* 5G coverage is a combination of two sub-indicators: 5G population coverage and 5G availability.
** 5G data affordability is a combination of the monthly affordability across three different baskets of data allowances for 5G (20, 50 and 100 GB).
Source: GSMA Intelligence

The results of the first edition of the index arepresented in Figure ii. Leading the way are developed
economies in the Gulf, Scandinavia and Asia Pacific.
These have achieved high scores for spectrum,
coverage, network experience, affordability, adoption
and device shipments. However, 5G fixed wireless3

Executive summary

access adoption, data usage and revenue growth
remain key areas for improvement. The countries that
perform less well on the 5GI are mostly LMICs in SubSaharan Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Theirlower scores are primarily attributable to the network,
affordability and adoption pillars.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure ii

5G Connectivity Index results by market, 2023
Kuwait

68

UAE

59

Norway58

Finland

57

Qatar

57

Denmark

57

Hong Kong SAR, China

57

South Korea

56

Mainland China

55

US

54

Singapore

52

Saudi Arabia

52

Switzerland

51

Australia

50

Germany

48

Japan

48

Canada47

Netherlands

47

Austria46

Sweden44

Bulgaria

44

France44UK

42

Israel

41

Italy

41

Spain

40

New Zealand

39

Thailand39

Greece39

Czechia

38

Malaysia

34

Chile

32

India

32

Brazil30

Mexico25

Philippines

23

South Africa

20

Indonesia

20

Nigeria
Americas18
Asia PacificSource: GSMA Intelligence

4

Executive summary

EuropeMiddle East

Sub-Saharan Africa

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

While the 5GI highlights a number of variations in 5G
development by region, some general insights can be
drawn:• Consumer experience on 5G networks outperforms
that of 4G in all assessed markets, with average
5G download speeds reaching around 230 Mbps
by the end of 2023, a more than fivefold increase
compared to 4G. In some markets, 5G speeds
are more than 10 times greater than 4G. The
assignment of new spectrum bands, especially inthe 3.5 GHz range, has played an instrumental rolein improving user experience.
• There has been significant progress in providing
affordable 5G data plans and devices. More than
30 markets in the index allow consumers to access
5G data plans of 100 GB per month for less than
2% of monthly income per capita, and in the
majority of markets, 5G unit prices per gigabyte arecheaper than those of 4G, allowing consumers toaccess higher data allowances. New smartphone
shipments in high-income countries are mostly soldfor over $500, while in emerging markets almost
two thirds are below $250, highlighting the growing
importance of lower-cost 5G handsets.
• 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) has been one of
the early 5G success stories in several markets,
having reached more than 5% adoption amonghouseholds in Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, the UAE,
Austria, the US, Germany and Australia. This
represents an important use case for operators
aiming to drive revenue growth, serve new market
segments and better utilise network assets. It also
provides high-speed fixed broadband connectivity
to underserved households and can help closethe digital divide between and within countries.
However, in the majority of countries, 5G FWA
adoption remains low and so there is significant
room for growth.

5

Executive summary• Lastly, the index shows that 5G is an evolutionary
process and is currently still in the early stages.
Despite the continued growth in mobile data
consumption, most of the more data-intensive
5G use cases (e.g. AR and VR) remain nascent,including for consumers. Furthermore, in mostmarkets, including those with higher 5G consumer
adoption, the business-to-business (B2B) segmentthat operators expect to drive much of therevenue growth for 5G has not yet achieved scale.
The majority of operators are yet to deploy 5Gstandalone (SA) networks, which is a prerequisite
for unlocking the full potential of 5G. However, thedeployment and densification of 5G is a challenge
for operators, given the high levels of investment
needed and the fact that in many markets, returns
have been flat or otherwise declining.
The deployment of 5G SA and 5G-Advanced
represents the next stage of 5G’s evolution to support
new market demands before the development andlaunch of 6G towards the end of the decade. In termsof the 5GI, these technologies should drive significant
improvements in the indicators that currently scorepoorly, particularly in the market development pillar(given the potential commercial opportunities from theB2B segment), as well as the network and experiencepillars (given the infrastructure upgrades that are
required). However, realising these opportunities
will be dependent on wide ecosystem support,
overcoming investment constraints and establishing apath to the monetisation of 5G use cases. All of this will
require an enabling policy framework that incentivises
investment, fosters innovation and collaboration,
promotes dynamic competition and supports thetimely access to the right amount of affordable
spectrum in low, mid- and high bands.
The 5GI is therefore being introduced at a key pointin the evolution of 5G. Going forward, it will provide
the mobile ecosystem and policymakers with acomprehensive assessment of 5G development overtime and enable them to target investments andresources where they are most needed.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

1
Introduction
Background and context
The arrival of 5G technology has enabled fasterbroadband speeds and lower latencies than any
previous generation of mobile technology. By
delivering a step-change in consumer connectivity
and enterprise applications, 5G has the potential
to become a key pillar for intelligent connectivity,
supporting economic growth, transforming
businesses and delivering new innovative services.
Following the launch of the technology in 2019, thenumber of 5G connections worldwide surpassed
1.5 billion at the end of 2023, making it the fastestgrowing mobile technology to date. It took 10 years
for 3G to reach the same milestone and more than
five years for 4G (see Figure 1).

6

Introduction

Going forward, 5G is expected to continue to grow,as shown in Figure 2. Having surpassed 2G and 3G interms of number of connections in 2023, it is expected
to become the dominant global technology by 2028.
The number of connections on legacy networks (2G
and 3G) will continue to decline in the coming years as
users migrate to 4G and 5G, resulting in more network
shutdowns.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 1

Number of 3G, 4G and 5G connections globally since launch
Billion5

4

3

2
1.5bn milestone

10Year 03G

4GYear 1
5G

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Year 7

Year 8Year 9Year 105G (forecast)

Source: GSMA Intelligence

Figure 2

Evolution and forecast of mobile connections by technology
Percentage of connections
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2G

2018

2019

2020

3G

4G

5G

Source: GSMA Intelligence

7

Introduction

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

As 5G technology becomes embedded in consumer
and enterprise applications, it will drive wider
economic growth – it is projected to contributealmost $900 billion to the global economy by2030. Developed regions at the forefront of this
digital transformation, including in Asia Pacific,
North America and Europe, are set to experiencerobust growth in the period to 2030. The primary
beneficiaries are expected to be the manufacturing,
service and public administration industries, which
will jointly contribute 60% of the total economic
impact, driven by applications such as smart
factories, smart cities and smart grids.

Figure 3

Annual global 5G contribution by industry
Billion
$900

$800

$700

$600

$500

$400

$300

$200

$100

$0
2023
Services

2024
Manufacturing

2025
ICT

2026

2027

Utilities management

2028
Retail

2029

2030

Other

Source: GSMA Intelligence

A salient characteristic of 5G is its versatility, withthe technology having driven increased adoption
across a variety of business sectors. Industries
ranging from power companies and manufacturers
to transport operators and food producers are able
to use 5G for mission-critical applications. The shift
to 5G not only enhances operational flexibility but
also contributes to cost reductions and productivity
improvements.

8

Introduction

Moreover, 5G has the potential to close the digital
divide by extending high-speed broadband tocommunities previously beyond the reach of fixed
networks. 5G technology also has the ability tosupport an extensive array of static and mobile
IoT devices, which have a diverse range of speed,
bandwidth and quality-of-service requirements.
Table 1 sets out some of the primary 5G use cases
and applications.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Table 1

5G use cases: description and associated applications
Use case

Fixed wirelessaccessEnhanced mobile
broadband

Ultra-reliable
low-latency
communication

Massive IoT

Source: GSMA Intelligence

9

Introduction

Description

Business need

Vertical

5G allows network operators to deliver
ultra-high-speed broadband to suburban
and lower-density areas, supporting homeand business applications where fibre is
prohibitively expensive to lay and maintain.
This will allow more communities to beconnected to the internet via an ultra-fast,
reliable connection, bringing applications
such as telemedicine and remoteeducation to more people. 5G FWA cantherefore provide the benefits of fibre-like
connectivity to rural communities.

• Alternative to fibre
connection

Education,
healthcare, public
administration,utilities

5G provides the capacity to handle
growing data traffic and grants operators
an opportunity to develop new andimproved services to consumers. This
will enable a new range of applications,
including reliable mobile internet services
for mass gatherings and sports events(where current mobile technology isoften stretched to its limits) and AR/VR
applications that improve the customer
experience e.g. in retail, by supporting or
replacing traditional showrooms.

• Immersive experience(AR/VR)

Low latency and high reliability will enable
new applications in manufacturing,logistics, health and transportation. These
include autonomous driving, connected
robotic applications, AR/VR, drones andremote surgical/medical operations.

• Autonomous driving

5G will be able to facilitate a large networkof IoT devices, supporting the creation ofsmart cities, smart infrastructure and, inthe utility sector, smart grids capable ofself-identifying issues on networks. In the
agricultural sector, for example, farmers
will benefit from the potential of a vast
collection of sensors located in fields thatare able to identify with pinpoint precision
which areas need water, have disease or
require pest management.

• Remote control ofcrop conditions• Provides high-speed
fixed connectivity inareas where it is not
currently accessible• Allows 4K/8K
streaming on capabledevices

Retail, public
administration,
arts and events• Increased service
capacity• Safety-criticalapplications• Remotemanufacturing

Manufacturing,utilities, oil andgas, transport,
healthcare• Remote healthcare• Advanced
manufacturing• Smart cities

Agriculture,utilities,
manufacturing,
publicadministration

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Despite the promising outlook, however, anotherdigital divide is starting to emerge. More than
100 countries and territories had not launched 5G
networks at the end of 2023, of which more than
80% are LMICs.2 While ambitious targets havebeen set by policymakers and industry leaders for
5G deployment, penetration remains low in manymarkets (see Figure 4). Based on the latest forecasts,
by 2030 it is expected that 5G penetration in LMICs
will be around 55%, compared to 120% for highincome countries.3 This highlights the imperative
for strategic interventions, enabling policies andtargeted investments to address the barriers to 5G
development.

Figure 4

5G market penetration globally, 2023

0%

1–20%

20–40%

40–60%

Over 60%

Source: GSMA Intelligence

2
3

10

Based on the most recent income classifications by the World Bank.
Bank
Sourced from GSMA Intelligence. 5G penetration is calculated as the number of 5G connections as a percentage of total population. Connections differ from subscribers in that aunique subscriber can have multiple connections. Penetration can therefore be greater than 100%.

Introduction

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index
Given the importance and potential transformative impacts of 5G,
GSMA Intelligence has launched the 5G Connectivity Index (5GI) to
help enable increased 5G network coverage, adoption and market
development. The objectives of the 5GI are as follows:11

Introduction

1

Understanding the 5G landscape:The index offers a complete view of 5G
development in the selected markets,tracking indicators for coverage, network
performance, affordability, adoption
and market development. This facilitatescomparative analysis and offers valuable
insights for informed decision-making.

3

Guidance for policymakers: The 5GI
provides a data-driven approach fordecision-making, ensuring decisions on
5G expansion are grounded in empiricalevidence. Policymakers can develop
guidelines from the 5GI, ensuring focused
efforts to drive increased 5G market
development.

2

Tailoring priorities for 5G deployment:
The 5GI aims to tailor 5G connectivity,
network and economic priorities basedon local market context and digitaldevelopment, aligning strategies withspecific national needs.

4

Promoting universal access: The index
encourages universal access to advanced
mobile connectivity, highlighting the
disparities in 5G deployment to bridge
the digital divide. An important aspectof the 5GI is establishing ambitious
aspirational targets, providing a clear
roadmap for markets to achieve their 5Gand broader connectivity goals.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

2
The 5G
Connectivity Index
Index framework
The 5GI is constructed around two categories, 5G
infrastructure and 5G services, which are divided into
six pillars, which are in turn made up of 17 indicators.
Figure 5 presents the 5GI structure, as well as theweights assigned to each index layer. Details of the
17 indicators that are used to construct the index areprovided in Table 2.

4

The 5GI combines enablers and outcomes to provide
a comprehensive measure of 5G development in eachmarket. Enablers, such as network infrastructureor spectrum, contribute to desired outcomes suchas higher adoption and market development. The
indicators in the index therefore measure either an
enabler of 5G connectivity or the adoption or usageof 5G by consumers or enterprises.4 This combination
offers a holistic assessment of 5G, aiding governments
and organisations in decision-making, investment andstrategic planning.

Details about data selection criteria are included in 5G Connectivity Index methodology, GSMA Intelligence, 2024

12 The 5G Connectivity Index

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 5

5G Connectivity Index structure and weightings: categories, pillars and indicators
5G Infrastructure

5G services

50%

50%

Spectrum10%

Network
45%

Experience45%

Affordability
30%

Adoption
40%

Marketdevelopment30%

Low-band spectrum
45%

5G base stations
40%

Download speeds
40%

5G dataaffordability**50%

5G subscriber
penetration50%

Data traffic
per user70%

Mid-band spectrum
45%

5G coverage*
40%

Upload speeds
30%

mmWave spectrum
10%

5G standalone20%

Latencies
10%

5G deviceaffordability
50%

5G device
shipments
30%

Revenue
growth30%

5G FWA
penetration
20%

Video quality
20%* 5G coverage is a combination of two sub-indicators: 5G population coverage and 5G availability.
** 5G data affordability is a combination of the monthly affordability across three different baskets of data allowances for 5G (20, 50 and 100 GB).
Source: GSMA Intelligence

Table 2

5G Index categories, pillars and indicators
Category

PillarSpectrum

Indicator

Description

SourceLow-band
spectrumAmount of spectrum in bands below 1 GHz
assigned to mobile network operators

GSMA IntelligenceMid-band
spectrumAmount of spectrum in bands in 1–7 GHz
assigned to mobile network operators

GSMA IntelligencemmWavespectrumAmount of spectrum in bands above 24 GHz
assigned to mobile network operators

GSMA Intelligence

5G base stations

Number of 5G base stations deployed per
100,000 people

GSMA Intelligence

5G coverage (a)Coverage and availability of 5G networks

Ookla Speedtest
Intelligence® and
GSMA Intelligence

5G standalone

Proportion of 5G connections with operators GSMA Intelligencethat have deployed a 5G standalone network

Download
speedsMedian download speed for mobile users

Ookla Speedtest
Intelligence

Upload speeds

Median upload speed for mobile users

Ookla Speedtest
Intelligence

Latencies

Median latency for mobile users

Ookla Speedtest
IntelligenceVideo quality

Weighted sum of multiple video quality
metrics

Ookla Speedtest
Intelligence

Network
5G
infrastructure

Experience

13 The 5G Connectivity Index

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Category

PillarAffordability

Adoption
5G
services

Indicator

Description

Source5G dataaffordability (b)Monthly affordability of 5G data plans(based on 20 GB, 50 GB and 100 GB mobile
5G data plans)

Tarifica

5G deviceaffordability

Monthly affordability of the cheapest
available 5G device

Tarifica

5G subscriber
penetration

5G connections at the end of the period,
expressed as a percentage share of the total
population

GSMA Intelligence

5G device
shipments

Proportion of new device sales that are
5G-enabledCounterpoint
Research

5G FWA
penetration

5G fixed wireless access (FWA) connections
as percentage of total households

GSMA Intelligence

Data traffic per
user

Monthly data traffic per connection

GSMA Intelligence

Revenue growth

The average percentage growth in mobile
operator revenues since the launch of 5G
networks in the market

GSMA Intelligence

MarketDevelopmenta) The indicators for 5G coverage entail a combination of two additional sub-indicators: 5G population coverage (representing the proportion of the population covered by a 5G
network, sourced from GSMA Intelligence) and 5G availability (reflecting the proportion of users on 5G-capable devices who spend the majority of their time on 5G, sourced from
Ookla Speedtest Intelligence).
b) The indicators for 5G data affordability entail a combination of three additional sub-indicators: monthly affordability of the cheapest 20, 50 and 100 GB mobile 5G data plan
(initially expressed as a percentage of monthly GDP per capita, sourced from Tarifica).
Source: GSMA Intelligence

In order to ensure comparability across indicators,
they are normalised using the ‘minimum-maximisation’method, which transforms all indicators to lie withina range between 0 to 100, with a higher score always
representing stronger performance.
The 5GI web dashboard provides overall index scores,
including the underlying score for each indicatorand a market comparison tool.5 The first version of
the 5GI covers 39 markets and, going forward, someindicators will be updated on a quarterly basis, withthe remainder updated annually. Over time, moremarkets will be added to the index as they begin
their 5G journey. Full details of the methodology used
to construct the index, including data treatment,
normalisation, weighting and aggregation, are also
provided on the web tool.6
The rest of this section provides key insights from thefirst version of the 5GI, with all analysis reflecting data
as of Q4 2023.7

5G Connectivity Index scores
Figure 6 presents the results of the 5GI scoresby market. The highest performers are primarily
comprised of developed markets in the Gulf,
Scandinavia and Asia Pacific. These markets exhibit
relatively advanced levels of both demand andsupply factors for 5G services. On average, Asia
Pacific markets slightly outperform their European
567

counterparts, while African and Latin American
markets lag behind. This regional variation underscores
the need to address uneven levels of 5G development
worldwide. The majority of low- and middle-income
markets (LMICs) record the lowest scores, emphasising
the urgency to address the emerging digital divide.

Available at the following link: https://gsmaintelligence.com/5g-index
5G Connectivity Index Methodology, GSMA Intelligence, 2024
It is possible that, going forward, certain data will be retroactively updated. Therefore, the results presented in this report may differ slightly from the data on the 5GI website in
the future.

14 The 5G Connectivity Index

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 6

5G Connectivity Index results by market, 2023
Kuwait

68

UAE

59

Norway58

Finland

57

Qatar

57

Denmark

57

Hong Kong SAR, China

57

South Korea

56

Mainland China

55

US

54

Singapore

52

Saudi Arabia

52

Switzerland

51

Australia

50

Germany

48

Japan

48

Canada47

Netherlands

47

Austria46

Sweden44

Bulgaria

44

France44UK

42

Israel

41

Italy

41

Spain

40

New Zealand

39

Thailand39

Greece39

Czechia

38

Malaysia

34

Chile

32

India

32

Brazil30

Mexico25

Philippines

23

South Africa

20

Indonesia

20

Nigeria
Americas18
Asia PacificSource: GSMA Intelligence

15 The 5G Connectivity Index

EuropeMiddle East

Sub-Saharan Africa

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Despite the notable achievements of the leading
markets, only Kuwait scores above 60 (and it still has
significant room to increase its score, notably on the
spectrum pillar and the revenue growth indicator).
Additionally, a further 12 markets score above 50,
which is the midpoint of the index scale and is also
above the average score of the sample (44). Six
markets score below 30, with the remainder scoring
between 30 and 50. This can be attributed to thefact that the majority of analysed markets require
improvement in at least one of the two 5GI categories.
As shown in Figure 7, only eight markets (Kuwait,
Norway, Finland, Qatar, Denmark, Hong Kong SAR,South Korea and Singapore) achieve a score higher
than 50 for both categories.

Among the 31 markets with a score below 50 in atleast one of the categories, five markets achieve scores
above 50 on the overall index. These markets show
relative strength in specific dimensions. However,
the majority of markets score below 50 in bothcategories, meaning that most markets have room for
improvement in both 5GI categories. This emphasises
the important role of the 5GI going forward to provide
a benchmark for markets to track their 5G progress.

Figure 7

Score results by 5GI categories (5G services and 5G infrastructure)
80
KWT

70
USA

5G services

60

FIN

SAU
SGP
AUT

GBR

50

ISR
ITA

FRA

QAT
NOR

AUS
CHE

JPN

SWE

CHN

ARE

CAN

NZL

40

MYS

CHL

30

ESP GRC

BGR

IND
CZE

MEX

THA

BRA

IDN

20

ZAF

PHL

NGA

10

KOR

DNK

DEU

NLD

HKG

10

20

30

Americas

Asia Pacific

Europe40
Middle East50
5G infrastructure

60

70

80

Sub-Saharan Africa

Source: GSMA Intelligence

As shown in Figure 8, market development ranks
as the lowest-scoring pillar of the 5GI, followed by
network and adoption. Across all markets, there iscomparatively stronger performance in spectrum,16 The 5G Connectivity Index

experience and affordability. These variations highlightthe evolving nature of 5G development, stressing theongoing need to address specific barriers.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 8

Average scores by pillar
65
56
49
40

38

26

Spectrum

Network

Experience

Affordability

5G Infrastructure

Adoption

Market development

5G Services

Source: GSMA Intelligence

Cluster analysis
Based on the scores in the first 5GI, we can groupthe 39 markets into three tiers. The first tier includes
markets that score higher than 50 overall. The second
tier consists of markets scoring between 30 and 50,

which contains the majority. The third tier includes
markets scoring lower than 30. Figure 9 shows theaverage pillar score based on each tier.

Figure 9

Average pillar score by tier
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Spectrum
Tier 1

Tier 2

Network
Tier 3

Source: GSMA Intelligence

17 The 5G Connectivity Index

Experience

Affordability

Adoption

Market development

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Tier 1 (scores above 50)
The 13 markets with a 5GI score higher than 50 (mostly
in the Gulf and Asia Pacific) generally attribute theirperformance to the 5G infrastructure category. With
the exception of two markets (the US and Saudi
Arabia), all of them score above 50 in 5G infrastructure.
Most show strong spectrum and network scores,
particularly in 5G coverage, which may account for theirstrong performance in the indicators of the experiencepillar, such as download speeds, upload speeds andlatencies. An area that requires improvement in 5G
infrastructure is the deployment of 5G base stations
and 5G standalone (SA) networks; with the exceptionof mainland China, none of the markets in Tier 1 scoremore than 50 in both of these indicators.
From the perspective of 5G services, the Tier 1 groupperforms very well on affordability, with nine markets
achieving a score greater than 75. The adoption pillar
also shows relatively good performance, with highscores for 5G penetration and 5G device shipments.
However, similar to most markets analysed in thisfirst edition of the 5GI, 5G FWA adoption and market
development (comprising the data traffic per user
and revenue growth indicators) are the main areas
for improvement. As an example, for data traffic peruser, only four markets score higher than 50, while forrevenue growth, all of them score lower than 40.

Tier 2 (scores between 30 and 50)
A second group of 20 markets, primarily in Europe andAsia Pacific, have scores between 30 and 50. In the 5G
infrastructure category, similar to the Tier 1 markets,
most of the Tier 2 markets have relatively high scoresfor spectrum assignments. However, compared to theleading markets, this group lags behind in the networkand experience pillars, which underscores the need to
improve on indicators such as the deployment of 5Gbase stations (with 14 of them scoring lower than 20
points), expanding 5G coverage and advancing the
deployment of 5G SA networks (though some markets
score exceptionally well for 5G SA, notably Australia,
Japan, Thailand and Canada). In the experience pillar, theprimary area requiring improvement is download speeds,
as 15 out of the 20 markets score lower than 30 points.

18 The 5G Connectivity Index

In 5G services, similar to Tier 1, this group also shows
stronger results in terms of affordability and in the
5G device shipments indicator, which means there isa growing 5G device ecosystem. However, specificefforts are needed to address the 5G connectivity
gap, driven by low penetration rates and limited 5G
FWA adoption. Additionally, advancements in the data
traffic per user and revenue growth indicators are
crucial for market development.

Tier 3 (scores below 30)
Finally, a group of six markets, primarily LMICs in SubSaharan Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific, scorelower than 30 points in the 5GI. In the 5G infrastructure
category, with the exception of Brazil (which performs
relatively well in this specific category, scoring 41,
similar to the average score for countries identified inTier 2 for this category), all other markets score lessthan 33. This highlights the need for improvement in all
infrastructure indicators, particularly 5G base station
deployment, which is by far the weakest indicator
for Tier 3 markets. This is also linked to poorer
performance in the experience pillar. 5G coverage isalso critical to achieving wider access to 5G, and sincemost markets in this group have coverage scores lower
than 35, improving this aspect will be an importantpriority for 5G deployment.
Unlike with Tier 1 and 2, in the 5G services category,affordability is also an area that needs improvement.
All markets in Tier 3 fall within the lowest 10 scores forthe affordability pillar. This underscores the importanceof affordable 5G data and devices, particularly forlower-income populations, as this directly impacts theusage gap in 5G penetration. 5G penetration being low
is linked to the low scores for 5G device shipments, as
the development of the ecosystem is still in its earlystages. On the positive side, many Tier 3 markets
have better scores on revenue growth than Tier 2 andeven some Tier 1 markets, though this is likely to be
explained by the fact that many have only launched 5G
recently and much of the revenue growth will still be
driven by 4G and connecting new broadband users.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

3
Unleashing thefull benefits of 5G
The 5GI enables a comprehensive assessment of the aspects of 5G that require
focused attention and development. While these vary by country, we can draw
some general insights from the first edition of the index.

5G is already providing an enhanced user experience, in part due to theassignment of key spectrum bands
In all of the markets covered by the first 5GI, theconsumer experience on 5G networks is noticeably
outperforming that of 4G networks. By the end of2023, average 5G download speeds had reachedapproximately 230 Mbps, more than a fivefold increase
from the 44 Mbps observed in 4G. Across the 39
markets covered, average 5G download speeds
were 2–19 times greater than 4G download speeds.
Moreover, average 5G upload speeds are more than
two times greater than 4G, and 5G average latency is
16% lower than that of 4G (see Figure 10).

19

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

Sustaining this level of user experience will be
important for the mobile ecosystem, especially withmore users transitioning to 5G. This migration will leadto higher demand and potential congestion on the
network, which underscores the need to maintain andenhance network capacity.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 10

Average download speeds, upload speeds and latency for 4G and 5G, Q4 2023
Download (Mbps)

Upload (Mbps)

Multi-server latency (ms)

24

233

48

40

10

44

5G

4G LTE

5G

4G LTE

5G

4G LTE

Note: Data is based on the 39 markets in the 5GI.
Source: GSMA Intelligence analysis of data provided by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence

An instrumental factor contributing to the improved
user experience is the assignment of new spectrum
bands since the introduction of 5G, especially in the
3.5 GHz range, which is to date the most widely used
5G frequency band. Figure 11 shows that 5G speeds arehigher when consumers are connected using 3.5 GHz
range spectrum. It also highlights the step-change inperformance when utilising high bands in the mmWave
frequencies, with users experiencing gigabit speeds(though it should be noted the analysis of high bands
is based on a much smaller sample of three markets,as the ecosystem for mmWave 5G networks remains
more limited than for mid-bands).8 Given the costsavings that mmWave deployments can drive,9 as wellas consumer demand going forward,10 new mmWave
spectrum assignments and network deployments
should lead to growing adoption in the coming years.
Operators in 36 out of the 39 markets analysed in the
5GI have been assigned spectrum in the 3.5 GHz range.
Those that have assigned more than 300 MHz of 3.5
GHz range spectrum have achieved speeds that are
more than 60% higher than those that have assigned
8
9
10
11
12

20

less than 300 MHz. Furthermore, the outcome of the
ITU’s World Radiocommunication Conference 2023,
where countries agreed on the harmonisation of
mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 6 GHz ranges(in addition to new low-band spectrum), meansthat consumers’ 5G experience should continue toimprove.11
Additionally, in 35 markets, operators are leveraging
600 or 700 MHz spectrum frequencies to extend
coverage indoors and in rural areas. This strategic
use of spectrum bands plays a pivotal role in ensuring
more extensive and reliable 5G network coverage,
further enhancing connectivity for users across diverse
geographies. A previous GSMA study showed thatmarkets where operators are utilising the 600 or 700
MHz bands for 5G have significantly higher levelsof 5G coverage, as well as better 5G availability andindoor quality of service. In terms of coverage, forexample, the average 5G network population coveragereached 73% for countries using the 600 or 700 MHz
frequencies, while this figure was 46% for countries notusing these frequencies.12

For example, see “mmWave Clocks Gigabit Speeds in the U.S. but Lacks Maturity Elsewhere”. Ookla, February 2023
For example, see The economics of mmWave 5G,
5G GSMA Intelligence, 2021 and The 5G FWA opportunity: series highlights,
highlights GSMA Intelligence 2022
For example, see Consumer 5G: how much users would pay for mmWave,
mmWave GSMA Intelligence, 2023
“For the benefit of billions: the impact of WRC-23 decisions on spectrum policy in 2024”, GSMA, January 2024
See Socio-Economic Benefits of 5G: The importance of low-band spectrum,
spectrum GSMA, 2023

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 11

Average 5G download speed by frequency band, Q4 2023
Mbps

1,086

360
136

93
Low bands(sub-1 GHz)

Lower mid-bands(1–3 GHz)

3.5 GHz range

High bands(mmWave)

Note: Data for low bands, lower mid-bands and 3.5 GHz range is based on the average download speed across the 39 markets in the 5GI for Q4 2023. Analysis of high bands is only
based on data for the US, Japan and Australia.
Source: GSMA Intelligence analysis of data provided by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence

5G is becoming more affordable, especially in emerging markets
There have been notable strides in the mobile
ecosystem towards offering more affordable dataplans and devices.13 Considering the affordability
target that is used by the ITU (which sets countries
the objective to achieve entry-level broadband
subscription costs at less than 2% of monthly
income),14 the majority of the 39 markets in the 5GI
exhibit affordability levels below 2% of monthly income
when considering the cost of the cheapest 5G mobile
plan. This performance is impressive given that the
ITU target applies to entry-level plans with up to 2 GBof monthly data allowance, whereas the 5GI monitors
monthly plans of 20, 50 and 100 GB.
Of the 39 markets in the 5GI, only four have affordability
levels above 2% of monthly income for a 20 GB plan,
while eight markets have affordability above 2%
for a 100 GB plan. These comparisons highlight thevarying degrees of affordability across markets andthe progress that operators have made in achieving
affordable 5G services in most of the 39 markets.
13
14
15

21

An analysis of mobile tariffs offered in the 39 markets
at the end of 2023 also shows that the transition
from 4G to 5G has proven to be cost effective for
consumers, with significantly lower prices per gigabyte
and an improved overall service. In 31 of the 39
markets, the median price per gigabyte for 5G plans islower than that of non-5G plans, with most having a 5G
unit price that is less than half that of 4G.15 This trend
underscores a further positive shift in affordability,
allowing consumers to access higher data capacities atlower unit prices.
In terms of devices, although considerable attention
has been placed on high-end premium 5G devices, 15of the markets assessed in the index offer 5G devices
priced at less than $250, adjusting for purchasing
power parity. Similarly, after adjusting for monthly
income, 26 out of the 39 markets exhibit relative
income prices lower than 10% of monthly income, as
shown in Figure 12. This highlights how 5G devices are
becoming increasingly affordable relative to income.

The affordability analysis presented here is based on mobile pricing and device data sourced from Tarifica. Further details on the underlying data and indicators are provided in
the 5G Connectivity Index methodology.
See Aspirational targets for 2030,
2030 ITU
Of these 31 markets, six have stopped distinguishing 4G and 5G mobile tariffs . Analysis of tariffs is based on standard plans (excluding youth or senior plans) and any tariff(postpaid or prepaid) intended for consumers (excluding business plans). For more details, refer to the 5G Connectivity Index methodology

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Figure 12

Distribution of cheapest 5G device prices relative to monthly income, Q3–Q4 2023
44%

23%

21%
13%

Less than 5%of monthly income

Between 5% and 10%
of monthly income

Between 10% and 20%
of monthly income

More than 20%
of monthly income

Note: Data is based on the 39 markets in the 5GI.
Source: GSMA Intelligence analysis of data provided by Tarifica

Figure 13 illustrates the distribution of 5G device
shipments by price band. In high-income markets,the majority of devices are priced at $500 or above,
whereas in LMICs almost two thirds fall below the$250 mark. Despite an overall decline in smartphone
shipments due to cost-of-living crises and risingexpenses over the past two years,16 5G device

shipments have increased, with lower-cost devices
driving growth in emerging markets and premium 5G
smartphones sales increasing in high-income markets.
Given the crucial role of device affordability in boosting
5G adoption, increasing the availability of affordable
5G devices will be essential.

Figure 13

Distribution of 5G device shipments by wholesale price, Q4 2022 – Q3 2023
5%
13%

23%

18%

45%

64%
16%

15%
High-income countries<$250$250–500$500–1,000

LMICs>$1,000

Note: Data is based on the 39 markets in the 5GI. Prices refer to wholesale shipment prices.
Source: GSMA Intelligence analysis of data provided by Counterpoint Research

16

22

For example, see “2023 Global Smartphone Shipments to Hit Lowest Level in Almost a Decade”, Counterpoint Research, November 2023

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

While this progress on data and device affordability is
encouraging, it is important to note that the majorityof markets in the first 5GI edition are high-income
markets, and the average does not capture theaffordability challenges faced by those at the bottomof the income distribution. For instance, considering
all markets in the index, affordability of 5G devices anddata plans for the poorest 20% is 2–8 times worse than
the average affordability, and 3–28 times worse thanfor the richest 20%.

Efforts to enhance the affordability of 5G services anddevices therefore remain a priority, particularly forsegments of the population with lower income levels.
This economic barrier poses a significant challenge toachieving widespread adoption and hampers efforts
aimed at promoting digital inclusion.

5G deployments are not yet complete, especially 5G SA
Of the 39 markets in the 5GI, only four (South Korea,
Norway, Hong Kong SAR and mainland China), have
deployed more than 200 base stations per 100,000
people. A lack of base stations hinders the expansion
and capacity of 5G networks, limiting the overall reachand accessibility of high-speed connectivity. The
deployment and densification of 5G is a challenge for
operators, given the high levels of investment needed
and the fact that in many markets, returns have been
flat or otherwise declining.
While the mobile ecosystem works to develop theuse cases and additional value that 5G can bring,
governments and regulatory bodies should focus on
creating a supportive framework that incentivises
investment, assigns sufficient and affordable spectrum
and streamlines the deployment process. By fostering
an environment that encourages investment andcollaboration, policymakers can accelerate thedeployment of 5G infrastructure, ensuring a faster andmore efficient rollout.

17
18

23

The deployment of 5G SA networks also remains
limited, with only five markets in the 5GI achieving
nearly full adoption among operators and 17 markets
having no operator 5G SA launches as of the endof 2023. This slow progress in deploying 5G SA
technologies impedes the realisation of 5G’s full
impact, as SA networks offer enhanced capabilities
compared to non-standalone configurations. 5G SA
will be important in fulfilling 5G’s potential, particularly
in terms of extended slicing, low latency and massive
IoT capabilities that are crucial for enterprise service
requirements. Despite its critical role, 5G SA faces
challenges in terms of deployment progress, including
device support and inconsistent spectrum policy insome regions.17
To facilitate deployment, targeted strategies andsupportive policy environments are essential to help
reduce costs, incentivize investments, and promote theecosystem. The expected role of 5G SA is reflected in
the GSMA Intelligence Operator Survey 2022, whichfound 5G SA to be the most important 5G capability todrive success in operators’ enterprise offerings.18

For example, see European Spectrum Policy for the Digital Decade – options for the new Radio spectrum policy programme,
programme GSMA and ETNO, 2023
Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey Dashboard 2022,
2022 GSMA Intelligence, 2022

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

5G FWA has the potential to be a bigger success story
FWA networks have a long history, having
predominantly leveraged 4G technology forcommercial services. The emergence of 5G istransforming FWA into a more competitive solution
compared to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and cable,
offering speeds over 10 times those of 4G FWA. In
addition to higher speeds, 5G FWA is benefiting fromseveral market developments, including government
mandates and/or incentives promoting the useof 5G FWA to reach rural areas, the sunsetting of
legacy broadband technologies (notably xDSL), therapid rise in the number and diversity of 5G FWA
devices (indoors and outdoors) and the entry of new
broadband players leveraging 5G FWA to compete
against incumbent fixed broadband providers.19 At theend of 2023, 123 operators in 62 markets worldwide
had launched 5G FWA services, meaning that morethan 40% of commercial 5G networks included a 5G
FWA offering.
In some of the markets assessed in the index, 5G
FWA has grown rapidly: it has reached more than 5%
adoption among households in Kuwait, Saudia Arabia,
the UAE, Austria, the US, Germany and Australia. Thishas made FWA one of the early 5G success stories. It isa particularly important use case for operators aiming

to drive revenue growth, serve new market segments
and better utilise network assets.
In the context of the 5GI, the indicator assessed isthe adoption of 5G FWA as a share of households.
Despite the initial growth in some markets, the results
reveal considerable scope for improvement, with the
majority of markets (30 out of 39) having lower than
5% adoption. Even if we only consider households that
do not have FTTH or cable, 5G FWA adoption remains
lower than 10% in 25 markets.
Therefore, despite experiencing the highest customer
growth rate among all fixed broadband accesstechnologies, 5G FWA is still in the early stages ofdevelopment, representing approximately 1% of total
fixed broadband connections as of Q4 2023. However,consumer interest in 5G FWA is high. According to the
GSMA Intelligence Consumers in Focus Survey 2022,
5G FWA tops the list of most appealing 5G use cases
for consumers, both in fast-growing markets, such as
the US, and in markets where 5G FWA adoption has
been slower. In this context, to extend meaningfulconnectivity to underserved areas, governments
worldwide are actively seeking to expand the reach of
high-speed broadband networks.20

5G market development is still in its early stages
Despite the continued growth in mobile data
consumption, most of the more data-intensive 5G use
cases remain nascent, including for consumers (e.g.
AR and VR). As the adoption of these advanced use
cases increases over time, data usage may accelerate.
At the end of 2023, average monthly data usage perconnection in the 39 markets covered in the 5GI stoodat around 20 GB. However, this figure is expected toincrease to more than 50 GB by the end of the decade,primarily driven by the widespread adoption of moredata-intensive 5G-enabled services.

19
20
21
22
23

24

Revenue growth and 5G use cases
Since the introduction of 5G in each of the 39 markets,
average service revenue21 (in nominal terms) has
increased in 30 of them,22 though only four haveexperienced average annual growth of 5% or more.23
External factors, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic
and high inflation in 2022, have imposed constraints
on the market for mobile operators and the ecosystem
more generally.

For example, see 5G FWA on the rise: state of the market, new developments and outlook through to 2030,
2030 GSMA Intelligence, 2023; The 5G FWA opportunity: series highlights,
highlights
GSMA Intelligence, 2022; and 5G FWA in action,action GSMA Intelligence, 2022
For specific examples, see 5G FWA on the rise: state of the market, new developments and outlook through to 2030,
2030 GSMA Intelligence, 2023
Mobile recurring service revenues refer to the ongoing and regularly occurring income generated by mobile service providers from their subscribers.
When considering real price adjustments for inflation, the number of markets with positive average growth rates since the launch of 5G is reduced to 13.
It is important to note that the four countries with higher annual growth since 5G launch are Nigeria, India, Bulgaria and Mexico, where mobile service revenues are still primarily
driven by 4G.

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

In the short to-medium term, operators have a clear
view on the use cases and applications they expect 5G
to support, including improved slicing, IoT capabilities
and multi-access edge computing. These are alsouse cases that mobile network and device vendors
continue to support. The priority now is to monetise
these and drive commercial value, especially in thebusiness-to-business (B2B) segment that operators
expect to drive much of the revenue growth for 5G.
Estimates of B2B’s contribution to total revenues
varies across operators, ranging from 19% to 45%.24
Operators are navigating a balance between shortand long-term expectations, acknowledging thatB2B growth requires initial resource investments

and the establishment of dedicated business units.
The monetisation journey is therefore a multi-yearendeavor that will extend into the 5G-Advanced era.25
Findings from a GSMA Intelligence survey26 show that
5G connectivity services remain the primary use casefor enterprise customers, followed by IoT (see Figure 14).
The digital transformation of enterprises has resulted inincreased demand for connected assets and operational
intelligence, prompting operators to recognise theimportance of IoT in the success of their enterprisestrategies.27 This is evident, for instance, in the substantial
increase in the number of enterprise IoT connections,which reached more than 10 million at the end of 2023
(more than double compared to five years before).28

Figure 14

Enterprise services portfolio and priority rankings
Rank how important the following are to the success of your enterprise strategy (percentage of
respondents)
Total for ‘very’and ‘extremely’
important

5G connectivity
services

91%

IoT services

75%

41%

Managed andprofessional services

68%

40%

Security services

66%

Cloud services

55%

Edge services

39%

13%

Big data andanalytics services

34%

11%

23%

Moderately

Slightly

Importance:
Extremely

Very

21%

48%

29%

26%

32%

Not at all

Source: GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey 2022

24
25
26
27
28

25

B2B drives operator revenue growth as digital transformation of verticals accelerates,
accelerates GSMA Intelligence, 2023
For example, see 5G in the consumer market: the growth and monetisation story,
story GSMA Intelligence, 2022
Operator in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey Dashboard 2022,
2022 GSMA Intelligence, 2022
Enterprise Opportunity 2022: operator strategies, plans and expectations,
expectations GSMA Intelligence, 2022
IoT Connections Forecast to 2030,
2030 GSMA Intelligence, 2023

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

5%

11%

15%

41%

26%

7%

21%

28%

29%

7%

16%

34%

18%

7%

34%

57%

16%

Don’t provide such service

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Another expected key source for revenue growth in
the enterprise segment is the deployment of 5G private
networks. These provide businesses with significantly
improved levels of speed, reliability and low-latency
communications compared to 4G. Private network
deployments using 5G are growing. Based on the GSMAIntelligence Operators in Focus Survey, at the end of2022, 34% of operators stated they had launched orwere testing private 5G networks. At the end of 2023,
this proportion had almost doubled to 64%.
Despite regional variations, certain markets have madesignificant progress in the development of private
wireless networks. In Europe, key contributors to
private wireless activity include Germany, France, theUK, the Nordic countries and Spain. Notably, Germany
and the UK have seen significant enterprise investment
in 5G private wireless networks. While manufacturing,financial services and media exhibit the main use
cases, larger deployments have been made in criticalinfrastructure projects such as construction, mining,
airports, ports, healthcare clinics and hospitals.29
Turning to Asia, the Korean Ministry of Science and ICTreports that private 5G is operational in 48 locations,marking a substantial increase from 2022. The mainuse cases in South Korea involve shipbuilding, logistics,
healthcare, manufacturing and energy. Meanwhile, in
Mainland China, the three largest telecoms operators
lead in the implementation of private networks,
encompassing private 4G and 5G. For example,
China Mobile has one of the largest B2B businesses($18 billion in 2021),30 while China Unicom’s industry
internet revenue has been steadily growing by around
30% in recent years, accounting for 20% of total
revenues in 2022.31 Progress with private networks
and 5G is a key driver of B2B revenue growth for all
operators in mainland China, with deployment cases
including multi-access edge computing (MEC) nodes
and ultra-low-latency IoT services.

5G-Advanced: a new era for mobile growth
Following the rapid growth of 5G technology,
5G-Advanced is becoming a key focus for the mobile
ecosystem and will begin with the completion of 3GPP
Release 18 standards, expected in the first half of2024. It represents the next stage in 5G’s evolution to
support new market demands before the development
and launch of 6G towards the end of the decade,as more than half of operators worldwide expect tolaunch 5G-Advanced by 2025.
5G-Advanced will build on the capabilities of 5G(including network slicing and edge computing) as
well as developing new features, such as multicast
services, new AI use cases and integration with
non-terrestrial networks. It is expected to provide
a broad range of new capabilities for enterprises,
including extended reality, RedCap and passive
IoT. In the context of the 5GI, the evolution of
5G-Advanced should drive significant improvementsin the indicators that currently score low, particularlyin the market development pillar (given the potentialcommercial opportunities from the B2B segment), as
well as the network and experience pillars (given theinfrastructure upgrades that are required). However,realising these opportunities will be dependent on
wide ecosystem support, overcoming investment
constraints and establishing a path to the monetisationof 5G-Advanced use cases.33

However, despite the positive outlook for many
operators, the market is still developing, with the
majority stating that 5G private network customers arein the early stages of using them and, although they
are seeing benefits, specific outcomes (e.g. financial
returns) haven’t been measured yet.32

29
30
31
32
33

26

Global Mobile Trends 2024, GSMA Intelligence, 2024
Should China be seen as a global benchmark for enterprise 5G?,
5G? GSMA Intelligence, 2023
China Unicom: Scaling up private wireless networks in the largest and most innovative 5G B2B market,
market GSMA Intelligence, 2023
Global Mobile Trends 2024, GSMA Intelligence, 2024
A three-way showdown in 2023: 5G standalone, 5G-Advanced and 6G,
6G GSMA Intelligence, 2023

Unleashing the full benefits of 5G

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

4
Conclusion
The 5GI offers data-driven analysis for effective policymaking and investment
decisions, tailored to local contexts. Despite the rapid expansion of 5G
adoption, reaching 1.5 billion connections by the end of 2023, it still remains an
evolutionary process, as highlighted by the initial of scores in the index.
On the positive side, operator investments and theassignment of new spectrum bands have led tohigh-performing 5G networks that offer significant
quality-of-experience improvements to consumers andenterprises. Furthermore, affordability of both 5G dataplans and devices continues to improve and enableconsumer access, including in emerging markets.

27

Conclusion

Further investments are still needed, as many
populations remain underserved, even in high-income
markets, and 5G SA is still to be deployed by mostoperators. Without this, many of the 5G use cases thatare expected to benefit consumers and businesses
cannot be fully realised, which will in turn limit consumer
and business 5G utilisation and therefore hinder thecommercial value of 5G for operators and the wider
ecosystem. It will also be important to continue toimprove affordability, especially in lower-income
markets, so that the digital divide does not widen.

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity Index

Recommendations for policymakers
The 5GI will provide policymakers and the private sector with a comprehensive
view of 5G development over time and enable them to target investments andresources where they are most needed. Based on the analysis from the firstversion of the 5GI, a number of recommendations can already be consideredto accelerate the monetisation of 5G services, increase investment andencourage the widespread adoption and use of 5G:• Modernise regulation: Adapt regulatory frameworks to the dynamic
nature of 5G, fostering investment, innovation and collaboration. Enable
small cell deployment, streamline backhaul deployment and harmonise
power density limits.
• Enhance investment in networks: Mobilise increased investments fromgovernments and the private sector to develop reliable and extensive 5G
networks capable of meeting growing service demands.
• Ensure cooperation between stakeholders: Foster collaboration among
vendors, regulators and operators to optimise the deployment of 5G
networks, creating an environment conducive to shared goals and mutual
benefits.
• Promote effective spectrum management: Implement transparent
and well-coordinated spectrum assignment strategies to meet the risingdemand for high-speed and reliable connectivity.
• Advance toward affordable 5G services: Actively work towards
making 5G services more affordable, promoting accessible devices andaffordable mobile plans to bridge the digital divide and ensure widespread
accessibility.

28

Conclusion

The State of 5G 2024: Introducing the GSMA Intelligence 5G Connectivity
5G
Index
AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

gsmaintelligence.com

3

Conclusiongsmaintelligence.com