Gartner predicts that the global market for 5G network infrastructure will grow 39% in 2021, with estimated revenues of $19.1 billion, surpassing the $13.7 billion for 2020.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Michael Porowski, Senior Principal Research Analyst at Gartner, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic “spiked demand for optimized and ultrafast broadband connectivity to support work-from-home and bandwidth-hungry applications, such as streaming video, online gaming and social media applications.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This new direction corresponded with an acceleration of 5G development in 2020 and 2021 due to communications service providers (CSPs) in developed markets. Gartner found that 5G accounted for 39% of total wireless infrastructure revenues this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The report also highlighted that investment in other wireless infrastructure is decreasing “rapidly” in “all regions” as CSPs switch to 5G small cells.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
By accelerating the adoption of dynamic frequency sharing and millimeter-wave base stations, CSPs in North America will generate 5G revenue of $4.3 billion in 2021, a significant increase from $2.9 billion last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
CSPs in Western Europe are taking a different path, focusing on spectrum licensing, upgrading core mobile infrastructure, and managing regulatory processes, while gradually increasing 5G revenues from $794 million in 2020 to nearly $2 billion in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
According to Gartner, the Greater China region would retain its top spot with $9.1 billion from 5G revenue in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
By 2024, Gartner predicts that 60% of CSPs will offer commercialized 5G services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n