5G Standalone : From Slow Uptake to Market Momentum

For years, the telecom industry has been waiting for 5G Standalone (5G SA) to deliver on its promise. Progress has been steady rather than spectacular, and subscriber numbers remain modest compared to the early hype. Yet, recent figures show that 5G SA is now emerging as a major growth engine for the mobile core network (MCN) market — proof that the long game is finally starting to pay off.

So far, 71 mobile operators across 40 countries (source) have launched 5G SA services for consumers. On paper, that represents only about 10% of the world’s 700+ operators.

But the reach tells a different story. Together, these operators cover 55% of the global population. Even a relatively small number of launches translates into massive coverage. China Mobile is the standout example: after five years, it has achieved an impressive 60% subscriber penetration — proving that when the right conditions are in place, 5G SA adoption can scale quickly.

However, the expansion of 5G SA is not just about consumer adoption. Several deeper forces — and challenges — are shaping the pace of rollout and investment

1. Integration Challenges

Transitioning to 5G SA is not a simple software upgrade; it is a full structural transformation. Operators must deploy Voice over New Radio (VoNR) to remove dependency on legacy EPC fallback, and manage complex multi-vendor integration across a fragmented supply chain.

2. Monetization Uncertainty

Most operators recognize the potential of network slicing, but monetization remains unclear. Promised use cases such as ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) are not yet mature. Without concrete business models, operators are hesitant to prioritize heavy SA investments.

Instead, many telcos are shifting short-term focus toward AI, automation, and efficiency gains, where the ROI is easier to demonstrate.

The tortoise is moving forward, but the gap between hype and delivery remains. The critical question is whether the industry can close that gap in time to salvage the 5G business case and unlock the new revenue streams SA was built to enable.