This growth was attributed mainly to the introduction of 5G. Notably, Korea was highlighted as follows: 1st in 5G Base Stations Relative to Population: Korea has 593 base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, ranking first ahead of Lithuania (328) and Finland (251).
In the report, South Korea ranked first among 29 countries, including non-OECD members such as China and the European Union, in “5G base station deployment.” The country recorded 593 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly surpassing Lithuania (328) and Finland (251).
There were 30.76 million 5G network users in South Korea in June, accounting for about 38% of the total 80.23 million mobile subscriptions in the country, according to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT. Source: Reuters
South Korea is often viewed as a bellwether for the 5G business, largely because the country was first in widescale 5G deployment and its regulator collects detailed information about the adoption of the technology.
This change ensures that consumers use up-to-date technology that supports the country's evolving network needs. Qatar has announced the phase-out of 3G services by December 2025 to enhance 4G and 5G network performance and align with Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Qatar has set a deadline for mobile service providers to stop offering third-generation (3G) telecommunications services by December 31, 2025. This move is aimed at improving the quality of mobile services and focusing on more advanced technologies. Focus on 4G and 5G Networks
The bandwidth of a 5G network in Qatar can be up to 100 MHz in frequency range 1 (FR1: 450 MHz to 6 GHz). [citation needed] 5G is expected to have a major impact on the economy of Qatar. It is expected to boost the country's GDP by $16 billion by 2025 and create over 100,000 jobs. [citation needed]
A 2015 report by the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development ranked Qatar in first place among the developing countries by their respective percentage population using internet. The country also ranked second globally for percentage of households with internet. As of February 2023, 5G coverage in Qatar is at 70%. [citation needed]
Although Mongolia's sparse population and vast territory require large investments in constructing 5G infrastructure, mobile network operator companies are starting to launch 5G networks in stages, having successfully tested the network.
Mongolians first experienced 5G in 2022 when Unitel introduced the country's very first 5G pilot site in Ulaanbaatar. A year later, the company expanded its efforts by rolling out pilot networks across all 21 provincial centers, laying the groundwork for today's full-scale nationwide launch.
Unitel (GSM)- The No.1 ICT group in Mongolia who have the first and nationwide 3G/4G/5G network. Mobicom Corporation (GSM) – The first mobile operator. service resembling that of landlines, but uses technology similar to mobile phones.
With this rollout, Mongolians now join over 2 billion people worldwide who have access to 5G services. As the technology becomes a key driver of innovation, Mongolia aims to achieve 5G coverage for 70% of its population by 2027.
Setting up a 5G base station is expensive, with costs ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 per site. This price includes hardware, installation, site rental, and maintenance. Urban areas often have higher costs due to land prices and infrastructure challenges.
However, transitioning from non-standalone (NSA) 5G to SA 5G comes with a hefty price tag—between $1 billion and $3 billion per operator. Unlike NSA 5G, which relies on existing 4G infrastructure, SA 5G requires a brand-new core network. This includes cloud-based architecture, advanced data centers, and software-defined networking.
The total cost of 5G infrastructure is staggering, with projections estimating that telecom companies will spend over $2 trillion globally by 2030. This includes investments in spectrum, network densification, fiber backhaul, energy-efficient infrastructure, and emerging technologies such as AI and automation.
The cost of deploying a private 5G network for enterprises typically falls between $250,000 and $1 million, depending on the size and complexity of the installation. Unlike public networks, private 5G is customized for specific business needs, such as industrial automation, smart factories, and secure corporate communications.
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