5G in 2025: Progress, Promises, and the Path Ahead

Introduction

Have you noticed the 5G icon on your phones up right corner, when it swifts sometimes from 4G to 5G? Maybe it feels like nothing changes — your apps still load the same, those YouTube videos stream just fine, and browsing doesn’t seem any faster. Well that’s a common experience.
For years, 5G has been hyped as the next major leap in mobile technology, promising blazing-fast speeds, ultra-low latency, and futuristic capabilities like remote surgery and autonomous vehicles. But as we move through 2025, the rollout story is far more complex and uneven. Some regions are racing ahead with standalone 5G networks and private deployments, while others are still figuring out how to turn promise into practical value.
So, where are we really with 5G? What was promised, what has actually been delivered. How many 5G base stations are built up to now and how about those self driving cars? There are a lot of questions, so let us breakout it down!

5G in a Nutshell

At its core, 5G is the next step in wireless technology after 4G LTE. It was designed to do three things significantly better: increase data speeds, reduce latency (the time it takes devices to communicate with each other), and support a massive number of connected devices at once. Compared to 4G, 5G has the potential to deliver download speeds up to 10 times faster, latency reduced to near real-time, and the capacity to handle everything from smartphones to smart cities and autonomous machines. It’s not just about faster YouTube streaming, 5G is intended to be the foundation for innovations in healthcare, industry, transportation, and beyond.

Non-Standalone vs Standalone 5G

When moving from 4G to 5G, mobile operators have two main paths to choose from: Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA). These are essentially two different ways to build a 5G network. NSA allows providers to roll out 5G quickly by using existing 4G infrastructure as the backbone, while still offering faster speeds through new 5G radio access. In contrast, SA represents a full 5G upgrade — including a brand-new core network — enabling the most advanced capabilities like ultra-low latency, better scalability, and network slicing. The journey began in December 2017, when the global standards body 3GPP released the first specifications for 5G Non-Standalone (NR). Just six months later, in mid-2018, they followed up with the full framework for 5G Standalone, marking a major milestone in the development of next-gen mobile networks.

So now when speaking about 5G, we think of 5G Standalone (SA) as this is the infrastructure the next 5G versions are based on. Currently according to the Global Suppliers Association (GSA) 72 operators across 131 countries have launched commercial 5G SA networks as of March 2025.

5G Releases

When we speak on the current state of 5G, we need to understand that the 5G implementation is divided in versions, achieving more and more technology milestones.

The development of 5G is guided by a global standards body called 3GPP, which publishes a series of technical specifications known as Releases. Each release adds new capabilities and features to the 5G ecosystem – much like software updates for a platform.

• Release 15, finalized in 2018, introduced the first version of 5G, enabling basic high-speed connectivity through Non-Standalone (NSA) and early Standalone (SA) networks.
• Release 16 (2020) focused on ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), industrial automation, private 5G networks and advanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) support.
• Release 17 (2022) expanded 5G’s reach further with enhancements for IoT, support for non-terrestrial networks (like satellites) and improved device energy efficiency.
• The latest, Release 18 (June 2024), is branded as 5G Advanced (also known as 5.5G) – a significant step forward that introduces AI-powered network management, enhanced uplink speeds and improved precision in positioning.

Actually, there is a reason why the 5G Advanced is in bold here. As Nokia explains: 5G Advanced is the new era of 5G. When we think of 5G, we most probably think of smartphones, but as 5G evolves to 5G Advanced, we see an increasing diversity in the connected devices. The 5G Advanced is also called the “mid-point” between today’s 5G and future 6G. What makes it so important is that it goes beyond just faster speeds – it brings intelligence, efficiency, and precision to mobile networks. With features like AI-powered network automation, enhanced uplink performance, energy-saving mechanisms, and precise device positioning, 5G Advanced is designed to support demanding use cases like augmented/virtual reality (XR), industrial automation, and ultra-reliable real-time communication. It also brings stronger support for private networks and non-terrestrial networks (like satellites), which are becoming increasingly important in defense, remote connectivity, and logistics.

While networks based on 5G Advanced are not yet widespread, some operators and vendors in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. have started testing and piloting early Release 18 features. The full-scale rollout is expected to pick up through 2025 and 2026, making 5G Advanced a hot topic in the telecom world today.

Release 18 is the newest Release finished in June 2024, but up to now 3GPP is already working on Release 19 and 20.

• Release 19 is expected to be published in December 2025, with the focus on enhancing 5G Advanced capabilities and already plan the groundwork for 6G
• Release 20 is expected to be published in June 2027. This release will more likely be already the first official release under the 6G umbrella. Release 20 is still exploratory — it will shape what 6G is going to be, based on what works well (or not) in 5G Advanced.

Private 5G Networks

The one thing where 5G is already proving its value is private 5G networks, which has been introduces since Release 16. Many global enterprises (like Bosch, BMW, Lufthansa) are already deploying private 5G networks.
Private 5G networks are dedicated wireless systems that offer organizations exclusive control over their connectivity infrastructure. Unlike public 5G networks, which are shared among numerous users, private 5G networks, as the name already represents, are tailored to meet specific operational needs, providing enhanced security, reliability, and performance.
These networks are particularly beneficial in environments where consistent and high-speed connectivity is crucial. For instance:

• in industrial settings, private 5G enables real-time data transmission between machinery and control systems, facilitating automation and predictive maintenance.
• in healthcare, hospitals can leverage private 5G for secure patient data management and advanced telemedicine services
• educational institutions can use these networks to support immersive learning experiences through augmented and virtual reality applications.

The 5G private networks can happen due to the implementation of 5G Standalone and features from 5G Advanced. But these private networks are popping up not just where they were expected, but also sport events, festivals and other, for example, massive events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami in May 2023, where private 5G helped keep 250,000 fans moving and purchasing and the Phoenix Suns’ new practice facility, which uses 150 wall and ceiling cameras and sensors to capture each player’s every movement.

But in general, we already have 4G LTE private networks, why then to move forward to 5G network?

In short – faster speeds & lower latency. While 4G LTE private networks have served many industries well, providing solid performance, reliable connectivity, and good coverage, they were never designed with the advanced digital transformation needs of the modern enterprise in mind. 5G enables use cases that LTE simply can’t support effectively.

Of course not every organization need to to jump in the 5G network usage. If the organization operations are becoming more digitized or you’re planning to deploy technologies that require real-time decision-making, advanced analytics or high-bandwidth wireless connections, then it’s worth exploring a 5G upgrade.

Private 5G vs Wi-Fi

Private 5G and Wi‑Fi have often been discussed in terms of either/or, but both of them are complementary. Private 5G provides wider area coverage, high-velocity mobility, and deterministic network access, whereas Wi‑Fi 6 and Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) deliver the highest network capacity in dense deployments, particularly indoors.

The market for 5G private networks is estimated to reach $9B by 2028, according to Analysy Mason (Analysys Mason, Telecoms capex: worldwide trends and forecasts 2018–2028, 2024).

Regional Focus

Some countries are sprinting ahead in the 5G race, others are cautiously stretching at the starting line, and a few are still looking for their running shoes. The strongest evidence of 5G’s accelerating momentum can be found in North America, where adoption is among the highest globally. By the end of 2024, the U.S. and Canada together surpassed 182 million active 5G connections, marking an impressive year-over-year growth rate of nearly 20%. This puts the region firmly in the lead not only in terms of coverage expansion, but also in the depth of 5G integration across both consumer usage and enterprise applications – from connected homes and wearables to industrial automation and smart infrastructure.

In contrast, Europe’s rollout has been comparatively slower, with the region facing challenges in spectrum allocation and network deployment. Asia presents a mixed landscape; while countries like South Korea and China have achieved remarkable progress in 5G implementation, others in the region are still in the early stages of development. These disparities highlight the need for tailored strategies to address regional challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the evolving 5G ecosystem.

According to Kearney Overview of the 2025 5G Success Index results, The United States, Singapore, and Finland lead globally, demonstrating advanced 5G infrastructure and innovative use cases. These countries have made significant strides in adopting standalone 5G networks and developing 5G-focused APIs, fostering active ecosystems that leverage the full potential of 5G technology. Eastern European countries, including Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic, are showing promising signs of progress. These nations are leveraging the current global slowdown in 5G advancement to catch up, investing in infrastructure and exploring new opportunities to enhance their 5G readiness.

Overall, the report emphasizes the need for operators worldwide to adopt a more proactive and innovative stance. By embracing new business models, investing in standalone networks, and fostering collaborative ecosystems, regions can unlock the full potential of 5G and drive significant economic and technological growth.

5G in Latvia

Our interests are also on our country – Latvia. The top operators in Latvia are Bite, LMT and Tele2. All these operators are building 5G base stations all across the country.

• Bite Latvija reported a 27% increase in mobile data consumption over the past year, highlighting the growing demand for high-speed connectivity. The company will be investing 20mil euros in 5G infrastructure this upcoming year.
• LMT is also advancing its 5G capabilities, with plans to launch standalone 5G services soon, aiming to enhance network performance and support advanced applications. LMT in 2024 had increased its investment volume by 22%, investing more in development and innovation than other operators have committed to investing in a year.
• Tele2 has partnered with Nokia to build a 5G radio access network across the Baltic states, including Latvia, to improve mobile internet speeds and coverage.

LMT in 2022 listed that the 5G network developed by LMT has more than 160 5G base stations throughout Latvia. Bite on the other hand by 2023 had 1067 base stations and 156 base stations for Tele2 by mid 2024. Not so bad for a country with 1.8mil population. Interestingly the country’s population continues to decrease (by 2045 it is predicted that the population will decrease to around 1.5million), telecom operators are doing the opposite: expanding at full speed. But it raises a fundamental question: who will actually use all this bandwidth? With fewer residents each year, the total pool of potential subscribers is shrinking. Operators are no longer just fighting to gain market share — they’re increasingly competing for the same limited group of users. In the long run, Latvia’s telecom sector may serve as a case study in how infrastructure ambition can outpace demographic reality and how innovation must evolve when the local customer base is no longer growing.

Conclusions

So, where are we now in the 5G journey? After six years since its global debut in 2019, 5G is no longer a futuristic vision – it’s a living, breathing part of telecom infrastructure. We’re well past the starting line but not yet at the finish. Think of it as the midpoint in a marathon. Rollouts are underway across the globe, coverage has expanded rapidly, and we’re witnessing the broadest penetration of 5G to date. Many operators are finally shifting from deployment to monetization. Early adopters are seeing momentum in areas like private networks, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), and 5G APIs, while ecosystem partnerships are beginning to bear fruit.

That said, the full 5G dream – autonomous cars cruising smart cities, real-time remote surgery, and immersive AR at scale – is still a work in progress. Technologies like self-driving vehicles, for instance, require not just 5G connectivity but a web of infrastructure, regulation, and public trust to truly go mainstream.

Meanwhile, 6G is already looming on the horizon, with early research hinting at a 2030 arrival. It promises even more transformative capabilities, but let’s not skip ahead just yet. 5G still has a lot to offer, especially as standalone networks mature and real-world applications catch up with the hype. The rollout may not be flashy anymore, but it’s laying the groundwork for everything that comes next.