The cellular communications industry is currently undergoing a transformative shift as it embraces the 5G era. This transformation is being driven by a confluence of factors, including technological innovations, liberal regulatory policies, and disruptive business models. One crucial aspect of this radical change is the increasing adoption of shared and unlicensed spectrum – frequencies that are not exclusively licensed to a single mobile operator. The deployment of 5G networks is a cornerstone of the industry's transformation. It promises higher data speeds, lower latency, and improved connectivity, enabling a wide range of applications, from IoT to augmented reality. The use of Massive Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology is enhancing network capacity and spectral efficiency, making it possible to accommodate more users and devices. Network slicing allows the customization of network services to suit specific applications and industries, contributing to the versatility of 5G networks.
Telecommunications regulatory authorities across the globe have either launched or are in the process of releasing innovative frameworks to facilitate the coordinated sharing of licensed spectrum. Examples include but are not limited to the three-tiered CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum sharing scheme in the United States, Germany's 3.7-3.8 GHz and 28 GHz licenses for 5G campus networks, United Kingdom's shared and local access licensing model, France's vertical spectrum and sub-letting arrangements, Netherlands' geographically restricted mid-band spectrum assignments, Switzerland's 3.4 – 3.5 GHz band for NPNs (Non-Public Networks), Finland's 2.3 GHz and 26 GHz licenses for local 4G/5G networks, Sweden's 3.7 GHz and 26 GHz permits, Norway's regulation of local networks in the 3.8-4.2 GHz band, Poland's spectrum assignment for local government units and enterprises, Bahrain's private 5G network licenses, Japan's 4.6-4.9 GHz and 28 GHz local 5G network licenses, South Korea's e-Um 5G allocations in the 4.7 GHz and 28 GHz bands, Taiwan's provision of 4.8-4.9 GHz spectrum for private 5G networks, Hong Kong's LWBS (Localized Wireless Broadband System) licenses, Australia's apparatus licensing approach, Canada's planned NCL (Non-Competitive Local) licensing framework and Brazil's SLP (Private Limited Service) licenses.
Another important development is the growing accessibility of independent cellular networks that operate solely in unlicensed spectrum by leveraging nationally designated license-exempt frequencies such as the GAA (General Authorized Access) tier of the 3.5 GHz CBRS band in the United States and Japan's 1.9 GHz sXGP (Shared Extended Global Platform) band. In addition, vast swaths of globally and regionally harmonized license-exempt spectrum – most notably, the 600 MHz TVWS (TV White Space), 5 GHz, 6 GHz and 60 GHz bands – are also available worldwide, which can be used for the operation of unlicensed LTE and 5G NR-U (NR in Unlicensed Spectrum) equipment subject to domestic regulations.
Collectively, ground-breaking spectrum liberalization initiatives are catalyzing the rollout of shared and unlicensed spectrum-enabled 5G NR and LTE networks for a diverse array of use cases – ranging from mobile network densification, FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) in rural communities and MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) offload to neutral host infrastructure and private cellular networks for enterprises and vertical industries such as agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing, military, mining, oil and gas, public sector, retail and hospitality, sports, transportation and utilities.
Global investments in 5G NR and LTE-based RAN (Radio Access Network) infrastructure operating in shared and unlicensed spectrum will account for more than $1.4 Billion by the end of 2023. The market is expected to continue its upward trajectory beyond 2023, growing at a CAGR of approximately 27% between 2023 and 2026 to reach nearly $3 Billion in annual spending by 2026.
The “Shared & Unlicensed Spectrum LTE/5G Network Ecosystem: 2023 – 2030 – Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts” report presents a detailed assessment of the shared and unlicensed spectrum LTE/5G network ecosystem, including the value chain, market drivers, barriers to uptake, enabling technologies, key trends, future roadmap, business models, use cases, application scenarios, standardization, spectrum availability and allocation, regulatory landscape, case studies, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also provides global and regional forecasts for shared and unlicensed spectrum LTE/5G RAN infrastructure from 2023 to 2030. The forecasts cover two air interface technologies, two cell type categories, two spectrum licensing models, 15 frequency bands, seven use cases and five regional markets.
The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report.
Key Findings
The report has the following key findings:
- SNS Telecom & IT estimates that global investments in LTE and 5G NR-based RAN infrastructure operating in shared and unlicensed spectrum will account for more than $1.4 Billion by the end of 2023. The market is expected to continue its upward trajectory beyond 2023, growing at a CAGR of approximately 27% between 2023 and 2026 to reach nearly $3 Billion in annual spending by 2026.
- Breaking away from traditional practices of spectrum assignment for mobile services that predominantly focused on exclusive-use national licenses, telecommunications regulatory authorities across the globe have either launched or are in the process of releasing innovative frameworks to facilitate the coordinated sharing of licensed spectrum. Examples include but are not limited to:
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- The three-tiered CBRS spectrum sharing scheme in the United States
- Germany's 3.7-3.8 GHz and 28 GHz licenses for 5G campus networks
- United Kingdom's shared and local access licensing model
- France's vertical spectrum and sub-letting arrangements
- Netherlands' geographically restricted mid-band spectrum assignments
- Switzerland's 3.4 – 3.5 GHz band for NPNs (Non-Public Networks)
- Finland's 2.3 GHz and 26 GHz licenses for local 4G/5G networks
- Sweden's 3.7 GHz and 26 GHz permits, Norway's regulation of local networks in the 3.8-4.2 GHz band
- Poland's spectrum assignment for local government units and enterprises
- Bahrain's private 5G network licenses
- Japan's 4.6-4.9 GHz and 28 GHz local 5G network licenses
- South Korea's e-Um 5G allocations in the 4.7 GHz and 28 GHz bands
- Taiwan's provision of 4.8-4.9 GHz spectrum for private 5G networks
- Hong Kong's LWBS (Localized Wireless Broadband System) licenses
- Australia's apparatus licensing approach
- Canada's planned NCL (Non-Competitive Local) licensing framework
- Brazil's SLP (Private Limited Service) licenses
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- Another important development is the growing accessibility of independent cellular networks that operate solely in unlicensed spectrum by leveraging nationally designated license-exempt frequencies such as the GAA tier of the 3.5 GHz CBRS band in the United States and Japan's 1.9 GHz sXGP band. In addition, vast swaths of globally and regionally harmonized license-exempt spectrum – most notably, the 600 MHz TVWS, 5 GHz, 6 GHz and 60 GHz bands – are also available worldwide, which can be used for the operation of unlicensed LTE and 5G NR-U (NR in Unlicensed Spectrum) equipment subject to domestic regulations.
- Collectively, ground-breaking spectrum liberalization initiatives are catalyzing the rollout of shared and unlicensed spectrum-enabled LTE and 5G NR networks for a diverse array of use cases – ranging from mobile network densification, FWA in rural communities and MVNO offload to neutral host infrastructure and private cellular networks for enterprises and vertical industries such as agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing, military, mining, oil and gas, public sector, retail and hospitality, sports, transportation and utilities.
- In particular, private LTE and 5G networks operating in shared spectrum are becoming an increasingly common theme. Hundreds of local and priority access licenses – predominantly in mid-band spectrum – have been issued in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Finland, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other pioneering markets to facilitate the operation of purpose-built wireless networks based on 3GPP standards.
- Airbus, ArcelorMittal, Bayer, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), BMW, Bosch, Dow, EDF, Ferrovial, Groupe ADP, Holmen Iggesund, Hoban Construction, Hsinchu City Fire Department, Inventec, John Deere, KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation), Lufthansa, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, NAVER, NFL (National Football League), Osaka Gas, Ricoh, SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric), Siemens, SVT (Sveriges Television), Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, X Shore and the U.S. military are just a few of the many end user organizations investing in shared spectrum-enabled private cellular networks.
- In some national markets, neutral host solutions based on shared spectrum small cells are being employed as a cost-effective means of coverage enhancement inside office spaces, public venues and other indoor environments. One prominent example is social media and technology giant Meta's in-building wireless network that uses small cells operating in the GAA tier of CBRS spectrum and MOCN (Multi-Operator Core Network) technology to provide multi-operator cellular coverage at its properties in the United States.
- Although the uptake of 5G NR equipment operating in high-band mmWave (Millimeter Wave) frequencies has been slower than initially anticipated, practical cases of 5G networks based on locally licensed 26/28 GHz spectrum are steadily piling up in multiple national markets – examples range from private 5G installations at HKIA (Hong Kong International Airport), SMC (Samsung Medical Center) and various manufacturing facilities to Japanese cable TV operator-led deployments of 28 GHz local 5G networks.
- The very first deployments of 5G NR-U technology are also beginning to emerge. For example, the SGCC (State Grid Corporation of China) has deployed a private NR-U network – operating in license-exempt Band n46 (5.8 GHz) spectrum – to support video surveillance, mobile inspection robots and other 5G-connected applications at its Lanzhou East and Mogao substations in China's Gansu province. In the coming years, with the technology's commercial maturity, we also anticipate seeing NR-U deployments in Band n96 (6 GHz) and Band n263 (60 GHz) for both licensed assisted and standalone modes of operation.
Topics Covered
The report covers the following topics:
- Introduction to shared and unlicensed spectrum LTE/5G networks
- Value chain and ecosystem structure
- Market drivers and challenges
- Enabling technologies and concepts, including CBRS, LSA/eLSA, local area licensing, AFC, 5G NR-U, LTE-U, LAA/eLAA/FeLAA, sXGP and MulteFire
- Key trends such as the growing prevalence of private cellular networks in industrial and enterprise settings, neutral host small cells, fixed wireless broadband rollouts, MVNO offload and mobile network densification
- Business models, use cases and application scenarios
- Future roadmap of shared and unlicensed spectrum LTE/5G networks
- Spectrum availability, allocation and usage across the global, regional and national domains
- Standardization, regulatory and collaborative initiatives
- 100 case studies of 5G NR and LTE deployments in shared and unlicensed spectrum
- Profiles and strategies of more than 400 ecosystem players
- Strategic recommendations for 5G NR and LTE equipment suppliers, system integrators, service providers, enterprises and vertical industries
- Market analysis and forecasts from 2023 to 2030
Forecast Segmentation
Market forecasts for LTE and 5G NR-based RAN equipment operating in shared and unlicensed spectrum are provided for each of the following submarkets and their subcategories:
- Air Interface Technologies
- Cell Types
- Indoor Small Cells
- Outdoor Small Cells
- Spectrum Licensing Models
- Coordinated (Licensed) Shared Spectrum
- Unlicensed (License-Exempt) Spectrum
- Frequency Bands
- Coordinated (Licensed) Shared Spectrum
- 1.8 GHz
- 2.3-2.6 GHz
- 3.4 GHz
- 3.5 GHz CBRS PAL
- 3.7-3.8 GHz
- 3.8-4.2 GHz
- 4.6-4.9 GHz
- 26/28 GHz
- Other Frequencies
- Unlicensed (License-Exempt) Spectrum
- 600 MHz TVWS
- 1.9 GHz sXGP
- 2.4 GHz
- 3.5 GHz CBRS GAA
- 5 GHz
- 6 GHz
- 60 GHz
- Other Frequencies
- Use Cases
- Mobile Network Densification
- FWA (Fixed Wireless Access)
- Cable Operators & New Entrants
- Neutral Hosts
- Private Cellular Networks
- Offices, Buildings & Corporate Campuses
- Vertical Industries
- Regional Markets
- North America
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- Middle East & Africa
- Latin & Central America
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