The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) reported that global adoption of 5G standalone (SA) networks remains slow, with 98 operators having launched 5G SA services by October 2026. The organisation contrasted this with the larger pool of commercial 5G deployments, stating that more than 390 operators have deployed commercial 5G networks worldwide, most of them using non‑standalone (NSA) architectures.
Why SA rollout is slower and what it enables
GSA and industry analysts say the shift to a 5G core — a prerequisite for SA networks — is expensive and operationally complex. That core transition is needed to unlock advanced 5G capabilities such as network slicing and new device classes enabled by 5G reduced capability (RedCap). Vaishali Purohit, a research analyst with FDM CCS Insight working within the GSA research team, emphasised the incremental nature of the move.
“5G SA deployment remains a subset of the wider 5G market… This is a transition that takes time,” Vaishali Purohit said
GSA data shows that by September 2026, 17 operators had launched RedCap services globally, with four launches occurring in 2026 alone. RedCap is aimed at devices that do not require full 5G feature sets — for example, connected cameras, industrial sensors and certain IoT classes — trading peak performance for reduced device complexity and cost. Its commercial viability hinges on the availability of 5G SA cores and a supporting ecosystem of compatible chipsets and modules.
Operators are using alternative routes: FWA and 5G‑Advanced
While SA remains limited, operators have continued to roll out services that do not require SA. GSA identified 276 operators offering 5G fixed wireless access (FWA), with 108 operators in Europe accounting for the largest regional share. The association also noted activity around 5G‑Advanced: 41 operators are investing in 5G‑Advanced and 19 have launched services.
For India, the report specifically names Bharti Airtel as an operator actively deploying 5G RedCap services. That places Airtel among a relatively small group of operators moving to support lower‑cost 5G device segments while broader SA uptake continues to expand slowly.
- 5G SA launched: 98 operators by October 2026
- Commercial 5G deployed: over 390 operators worldwide
- RedCap launches: 17 operators by September 2026 (4 in 2026)
- 5G FWA services: 276 operators (Europe: 108)
- 5G‑Advanced: 41 operators investing, 19 launched
| Metric | Count (by reported date) |
|---|---|
| Operators with commercial 5G | Over 390 |
| Operators with 5G SA | 98 (by October 2026) |
| Operators with RedCap | 17 (by September 2026) |
| Operators with 5G FWA | 276 (Europe: 108) |
For Indian consumers and enterprises, the implications are twofold. First, until SA becomes more widespread, services that rely on a 5G core — advanced slicing for enterprise SLAs, certain ultra‑low latency applications and full RedCap device ecosystems — will expand only gradually. Second, operators can still deliver enhanced broadband and fixed wireless services using existing architectures while selectively enabling RedCap to serve lower‑cost 5G device segments.
The GSA analysis highlights that the transition to a full 5G core is not solely a technology decision but involves cost, device ecosystem readiness and clear commercial cases for customers to migrate from established standards such as LTE and NB‑IoT.
