Smartphones have become an indispensable part of human life, with the latest advances in technology focusing to bring about all the possible applications at the palm of the individuals. However, the smartphones have, in fact, began to look like a relatively old innovation and is now merely used as a foundation for the new technological breakthrough, with new innovations aiming to make just about any device –smart and thus, connected to the smartphone. For example, the surge of internet of things has led to development of number of connected devices such as smart TV’s, smart wearable device, smart kitchen appliances, and smart energy saving solutions among others, which has the capability of keeping the individuals always informed while simultaneously providing the owner with the power to control its assets from just about any location and anytime. The advent of smart devices is creating the huge volume of data that is being transmitted and thus is creating a challenge to maintain the process of data transmission smooth. In fact, the total internet traffic in 2016 increased to 26,600 GB per second from 2,000 GB per second in 2007 (Source: Cisco VNI, 2017). This was primarily because of the adoption of 4G technology, which ramped up the data transmission speed and reduced the connection latency compared to the previously available technologies. However, the arrival of the 5G technology is drawing closer with each passing day, with major companies currently testing the viability of the technology and the commercialization of the technology is slated to be in the first half of 2019.  The 5G technology comes with the capability of transmitting data at a speed of 10 Tbps and a density of 1 million nodes per Km², while it is expected to further reduce the connection latency and thus will improve the data transfer rate and allow millions of devices to be connected simultaneously. In fact, the adoption of 5G technology is anticipated to boost the proliferation of connected devices globally as the number of connected devices is projected to increase from 19.24 billion units in 2016 to 85.93 billion units in 2023 with marked growth expected to be observed after 2019.  

 

FIGURE 1:      NUMBER OF CONNECTED DEVICES, IN BILLION UNITS

Simultaneously, the urban planners is also moving towards the development of smart infrastructure as they seek to address the concerns regarding the individual safety, improving air quality, enhancing efficiency in the transportation system, and in general improve the standard of living. Moreover, with the proportion of urban population expected to increase from 54% in 2014 to 66% by 2050, efforts are being made to make the cities more efficient and overcome these challenges. In this regard, the communication system is considered to be of the utmost importance that has the capability of unleashing critical services. Therefore, it is an accepted fact that the development of the smart infrastructure and thus smart cities is heavily dependent on the data transmission speed that allows handling of the large volume of data smoothly, and the commercialization of 5G technology is expected to increase the number of smart cities projects worldwide radically.

There is also widespread research being conducted in the sphere of autonomous vehicles that requires continuous internet connectivity in order to operate, however, the commercial reality of completely autonomous vehicle is believed to be still years away. Simultaneously, the idea of connected cars has been growing, with the number of connected cars rapidly increasing.  Presently, the majority of the connected cars in the market are equipped with level 2 autonomy, which tends to generate approximately 25 GB of data per hour.  The present level of connected features in the vehicles can be managed through the existing data transmission speed, however, the automotive manufacturers are aiming to increase the convenience level for the individuals, and install vehicles with more advanced features. The success of level 3 autonomous vehicles, and such the subsequent levels in the autonomous vehicle, is dependent on the speed with which the data is gathered from different sensors installed in the cars and time taken to respond to the given circumstances. In this aspect, the internet connectivity plays a vital role in terms of the duration of processing speed and 5G technology is projected to significantly improve the scope of the connected and autonomous vehicle in the years to come because of its ability to support vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communication. 

To conclude, the idea of being always connected with the required devices is on the cusp of being realized as more devices aiming to improve the quality of life and convenience to the individuals are being developed. The imminent commercialization of 5G technology is expected to unlock the potential of high speed data transmission that is crucial for the functioning of the connected devices and, therefore, the arrival of 5G technology is, in fact, the final piece of the puzzle that is required to support the revolution of connected infrastructure. 

Introduction

In 5G networks, a cell is a service area denoted small geography. Every 5G device in a cell is connected to the Internet or phone network via an antenna built into the cell. In January 2022, the count of announced 5G devices increased by 1.5% to 1,276 devices. Of these, 873 are believed to be available commercially, accounting for 68.4% of all 5G devices announced. The commercial 5G devices have increased by 15.6% over the previous quarter according to the GSA report in February 2022. More than 400 5G smartphone models were released by 2021. At the start of 2021, 5G device shipments were on par with, if not exceeding, projections according to the Ericsson Mobility Report, in November 2021. 5G handsets accounted for 23% of global volumes in the tenth quarter of the cycle, compared to 8.7% for 4G at the same point in its cycle. Devices that support carrier aggregation using New Radio are becoming more common. The demand for real-time communication services, such as network slicing, is likely to rise as a result of massive expenditure on extended reality headsets and wearable devices. (Fixed Wireless Access) FWA will offer broadband to over 800 million people by 2027, through around 230 million connections boosting the demand for routers and modules. During the third quarter, 5G subscribers increased by 98 million, reaching over 570 million. More than 660 million 5G subscribers are expected by the end of 2021 owing to higher-than-expected demand in China and North America, aided in part by the rolling out of 5G devices at lower prices.

The rationale for the rise in 5G devices

The demand for 5G devices is predicted to rise exponentially because of the growing connectivity, digital applications, and wearable technologies. Furthermore, updating current supporting infrastructures, such as modems, towers, and other equipment, is opening the doors for new participants. Emerging applications and business models, as well as lower device costs, have aided in the IoT adoption, growing number of connected devices and endpoints around the world. Several manufacturers, such as Qualcomm and MediaTek, are introducing 5G chipsets, which are being used by several smartphone manufacturers. Previously, 5G support was limited to just flagship devices; however, mid-range handsets are now supporting 5G to provide more affordable chipsets in the market. One of the key benefits of 5G technology is that it offers more bandwidth, allowing for faster internet and download speeds. Download speed of up to 10 gigabits per second is also being made possible on 5G networks.

Individuals Using the Internet

Source: ITU

5G SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO TOUCH OR EXCEED 4.4 BILLION BY 2027 ACCORDING TO ERRICSON

Mobile Subscriptions in 2027 (in millions)

Source: Erricson

Breakthroughs in the 5G devices sector

• To increase device penetration, major chipmakers are also concentrating on 5G device components. Qualcomm, for example, made its 5G baseband commercially available, after the release of its X55 completely multimode 5G/4G/3G modem. In February 2020, Qualcomm unveiled its third generation of 5G modem with X60, as well as integrated 5G system-on-chip with Snapdragon 765G and 765. This X60 will enable the aggregation of sub-six-gigahertz and millimeter-wave frequency bands.
• According to Lenovo, the Yoga 5G is the world’s first 5G PC, with ultra-fast connectivity, decreased latency, and broader bandwidth, since it supports both millimeter-wave full-band and sub-6GHz 5G networks. 
• On February 9th, 2022, Samsung released the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet. A 14.60-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 2960×1848 pixels and a pixel density of 240 pixels per inch is included with the tablet. An octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor powers the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is powered by an 11,200 mAh battery, has 8 GB RAM, and runs on Android 12.
• Qualcomm announced the release of its next generation of Qualcomm RF Front End solutions for high-performance 5G mobile devices in February 2021. The products are designed to support the Qualcomm Snapdragon X62 and X65 5G Modem-RF Systems’ power-efficiency and advanced performance capabilities, bringing together RF front-end components, modem, RF transceiver with artificial intelligence assistance, and mmWave antenna modules to allow OEMs to design flagship 5G devices.
• In Japan, the Lenovo Tab 6 5G was released in October 2021. The tablet features a 10.3-inch display, Snapdragon 690 processor, and a 5G connection. The tablet is Lenovo’s first 5G-enabled Android tablet in Japan, according to the company. For dust/water protection, the tablet has received IPX3 and IP5X certifications. The battery, which has a capacity of 7,500 mAh, is expected to last a long period. The Lenovo Tab 6 5G has three modes: Kids, PC, and Learning.
• In June 2021, Siemens released the first industrial 5G router. The gadget connects regional industrial applications to community mobile wireless networks such as 5G, 4G (LTE), and 3G (UMTS). The router can be used flexibly to remotely monitor equipment, and control components, and other industrial devices through a public 5G network. Simultaneously, Cisco unveiled a new line of catalyst industrial routers including 5G capabilities, designed to expand the enterprise network’s power to the edge while providing the security, flexibility, and scalability required for IoT success.
• Franklin Wireless Corp., a market leader in broadband data communications, announced in December 2021 that Jextream 5G, a new sub-6 5G mobile hotspot, is now available for purchase through valued business partner C Spire. The product uses C Spire’s cutting-edge 5G network for connectivity.
• Verizon debuted 5G Home Internet in Minneapolis and St. Paul in October 2020, delivering fast 5G Home Internet service and newly built hardware to users in eight cities. The 5G Internet Gateway, a company’s first-to-market MMwave 5G CPE/Router, is the newest 5G Home gear. Customers may now enjoy rates of up to 1 Gbps using the 5G Internet Gateway, which allows many devices to run at the same time. 

The Roll-Out of Smartphones has Skyrocketed

Increased technical breakthroughs and the need for ultra-high latency, ultra-low bandwidth, and enormous connectivity are projected to propel the industry forward. The increased demand for high-speed data connectivity for integrated IoT applications such as energy management and smart home products is expected to accelerate the adoption of 5G smartphones. Customers want the best-in-class 5G smartphone experience, thus industry players are concentrating on that.

• Samsung anticipated a significant shift towards standalone 5G networks in 2021, as well as further development of the 5G ecosystem, which will include applications that fully use 5G’s transformative potential. On February 20, 2022, Samsung Electronics revealed the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which combines the best of its two smartphone series, the Note series with the professional-grade camera and performance of the S series, to set a new benchmark for premium smartphones. The Galaxy S22 has a built-in S Pen, improved Nightography, better video capabilities, and a battery life of over 24 hours. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A71 5G and Galaxy A51 5G smartphones in April 2020, bringing 5G connectivity and new features to the popular Galaxy A series. The newly created items come with cutting-edge features such as a quad camera, infinity-O display, and 5G connectivity.
• The release of the iPhone 12 series in Q4 2020 boosted sales of 5G-ready handsets. Apple announced a 74% year-over-year increase in premium category sales, owing to the strong pace of the iPhone 12 series as iPhone owners are choosing to upgrade to 5G. Apple’s supply chain too was remarkably durable in the face of component shortages, and it benefited from Huawei’s collapse in China and Europe. Across all regions, Apple was the largest OEM in the premium class.
• The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, released in March 2021, was the first smartphone to use Snapdragon 780G 5G technology.
• OPPO India revealed in January 2021 that it plans to introduce more than six 5G-enabled devices in India that year, as the 5G-ready and IoT product categories become increasingly crucial for smartphone manufacturers in India.
• In March 2020, HMD Global unveiled freshly built Nokia 5G handsets as well as a brand-new hassle-free data roaming service. The Nokia 8.3 5G, which was released, is the company’s first 5G smartphone. The Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 1.3, as well as the newest member of the Nokia 5310 family, have joined it. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G CPU, which supports a 5G modem and is built on 7nm process technology, powers the 5G smartphone.
• According to Samsung Electronics’ Research and Development of IT and Mobile Communications Division, 2020 was the year of Galaxy 5G.
• Huawei and Samsung have been building their baseband for their smartphones to lessen their reliance on other chip manufacturers and boost their differentiating possibilities through software and hardware integration. Vivo revealed in November 2019 that the X30 smartphone was powered by Samsung’s Exynos 980 5G processor.
• Samsung anticipated a significant shift toward Standalone 5G networks in 2021, as well as further development of the 5G ecosystem, which will include applications that fully use 5G’s transformative potential. On February 20, 2022, Samsung Electronics revealed the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which combines the best of its two smartphone series, the Note series with the professional-grade camera and performance of the S series, to set a new benchmark for premium smartphones. The Galaxy S22 has a built-in S Pen, improved Nightography, better video capabilities, and a battery life of over 24 hours. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A71 5G and Galaxy A51 5G smartphones in April 2020, bringing 5G connectivity and new features to the popular Galaxy A series. The newly created items come with cutting-edge features such as a quad camera, infinity-O display, and 5G connectivity.

How Collaborations have Shaped the Industry

Device manufacturers, operators, and software companies have formed multiple levels of relationships, as well as a significant amount of investment. According to Gibson, collaborations that are driving the 5G market are already emerging.

• Vuzix Corporation, a leading provider of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and solutions, announced a partnership with Verizon to create a unique augmented reality experience for gaming and sports in December 2021.
• In collaboration with Lumen Technologies, HTC enabled wireless VR experiences on par with PCVR, powered by private 5G and edge computing, allowing enterprises to install and expand VR experiences on the go in 2021.
• Ooredoo announced a collaboration with Nokia in June 2021 for the deployment of Nokia’s 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) on-premise gateway, which provides consumers across Oman with an exceptional and speedy in-home Wi-Fi experience. The new cutting-edge units will deliver a wonderful internet experience to both families and businesses.
• Verizon and Inseego announced the debut of the Inseego MiFi M2100 5G UW mobile hotspot in September 2020, which is designed to deliver lightning-fast speeds over Verizon’s 5G Ultra-wideband and 4G LTE networks.
• In 2019, Signify and Ericsson announced their partnership to launch a 5G-based lighting solution for smart buildings. Signify, previously Philips Lighting, announced that its interior luminaire will be incorporated with Ericsson 5G radio dot in a collaborative effort that will let service providers add an indoor connection to buildings while lighting systems are being modified or installed.
• In 2019, Keysight Technologies announced a partnership with Motorola Mobility LLC to help the latter construct the world’s first 5G new radio (NR) smartphone operating in the mmWave band. Motorola’s devices were also brought into line with 3GPP standards and carrier criteria as a result of the strategic partnership.

Impact of COVID-19 on the adoption of 5G gadgets

With the support of IoT, 5G technology will provide ultra-high-speed network coverage and enable a slew of new applications. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, 5G deployment has been pushed back. According to Ericsson’s mobility report from November 2020, the net addition of mobile subscriptions in Q3 2020 was 11 million. This is due to the global epidemic and the resulting lockdown limitations. By the end of 2026, it expects 8.8 billion mobile subscriptions. COVID-19’s spread has caused a severe supply chain disruption, which has slowed the rollout of 5G in the near and medium term. As a result, the main 5G hardware delays, as well as the broader consequences of the economic downturn, apply. To deal with the current problem, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated service providers to give more bandwidth to homes for 60 days. However, a 5G connection is projected to alleviate network connectivity problems in the long run.

What does the future hold for 5G devices?

Apple is working on its in-house modem chips, similar to the Apple silicon and A-series processors, which will allow the corporation to lessen its dependency on modem chip manufacturers. Apple’s analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted that the company might switch to its own 5G modems as soon as 2023. According to Nikkei Asia, Apple plans to build its own 5G modems for all future iPhones in collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). If successful, the Cupertino-based company’s reliance on Qualcomm would be reduced.

Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Qualcomm, and Google are among the businesses working on AR and VR headsets. Meta announced its Project Cambria in October 2021 but the VR headgear will be released in 2022, likewise, Apple’s first headset is expected to be released in 2022. T-Mobile announced in November 2021 that it will be the official North American launch partner for Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform. In addition, starting in spring 2022, T-Mobile will engage directly with companies and developers to deliver immersive 5G experiences for AR glasses spanning entertainment, gaming, and other industries through the T-Mobile Accelerator. Further, in February 2022, Motorola and Verizon teamed up to design and engineer a neckband that would work with lightweight XR headsets such as Lenovo’s ThinkReality A3 smart glasses. It has a small remote control-like pendant with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a 5,000mAh battery, a touchpad, a SIM card slot, speakers, and a range of sensors such as the gyroscope and barometer, and it looks like a necklace. The FCC has cleared the product.

The Orbic Speed 5G UW is a portable hotspot that can connect up to 30 Wi-Fi-enabled devices for up to 12 hours at 5G speed. It is expected to release in 2022 with a long-lasting, rechargeable 4,400 mAh battery. Further, 5G’s high speeds and minimal latency could make energy transmission more cost-effective. Faster broadband speeds could contribute to more efficient energy grid management, which might lead to less downtime. In the case of a power outage, for instance, 5G-enabled smart power grids might instantly deliver data and sensor-based insights into the problem. In Hawaii, a system designed in conjunction with Verizon analyses outages and monitors meters, which is an example of this sort of smart grid.

About The Author

Roshni Bajaj works for Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence LLP as a Market Research Analyst. Roshni’s area of expertise is data collection, analysis, and translation into actionable insights that provide firms with a competitive edge. Visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com to read more articles by Roshni and to learn more about a variety of global and regional markets.

 

1. Introduction

5G has become a facilitator of smarter and novel ways of working. With the advancement in technology, the rise in the number of smartphones, and the surge in internet connectivity, 5G deployment has been accelerating worldwide at a significant rate. According to the data given by Huawei, over 150K 5G base stations were deployed in 2019, and the number has been growing significantly. The deployment of 5G had been accelerating the 1 Gbit/s in average speed, with significant peak rates of 10 Gbit/s. The deployment of 5G has been enhancing and supporting a wide range of industries, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), high-definition video surveillance, telemedicine, and others.

A clearer and affirmative identification of 5G players and stakeholders support the development, evolution, and creation of the new and advanced 5G ecosystems by characterizing the potential role of every actor involved in the 5G ecosystem. The stakeholder group includes a wide range of players, such as vertical sector companies, R&D institutes, and organizations, as well as other players involved in the overall value chain. Furthermore, standard institutes and organizations, policy developers, and makers constitute a significant part of the 5G ecosystem. The increasing involvement of governmental agencies at different levels, such as regional, national and global, are also projected to support a significant part of the industry value chain.

Real Estate Infrastructure constitutes an imperative part of the 5G ecosystem. It includes the involvement of tower manufacturers and service providers, small cells, and DAS solutions providers. 5G towers are known as telecommunications sites that are competent in transmitting and generating 5G novel radio signals for wide coverage areas. An exponential surge in 5G device purchases has been driving the demand for 5G real estate infrastructure worldwide. The involvement of mobile network operators and tower owners, with several partnerships or collaborations with telecom tower manufacturing firms, has been projected to surge the installation of novel 5G cell towers to improve or modify their existing 4G cell sites with new and advanced 5G equipment.

2. Overview

The deployment of 4G had been a revolution in the telecommunications industry. However, with the introduction of 5G, the global telecommunications sector has been projected for further enhancement. 5G has been featuring and offering massive connections, ultra-broadband, and infinite opportunities for consumers, worldwide. Operators have been enhancing and upgrading towers and other 5G-related infrastructure with new and advanced resources and equipment that show compatibility with the novel spectrum. Equipment manufacturers, such as Nokia, Huawei, and Ericsson, have been working to offer 5G radio gear, several support functions, and wider standards. The 5G real-estate infrastructure has been segmented between:

The vendors offering these solutions and services have played an imperative role in the market growth. 5G's coverage and speed capabilities heavily rely on advanced network densification, which requires the inclusion and addition of small cells and towers to the new or existing network. The 5G benchmark and standards offer lesser spectral provisional and efficiency gains and benefits than earlier generations of network infrastructure and technology. Instead, enhanced capacity and speed are derived from the operator's ability to utilize and use substantial blocks of higher frequencies and contagious spectrum. This requires adding around 3 to 10 times the number of given and existing sites to their respective networks. Most of the additional network and infrastructure will be built and developed with sets of small cells and other solutions using utility phones, lamp posts, and other similar-sized structures.

Several countries have been making an extensive impact in the 5G real estate infrastructure development. For instance, China has been constructing and building network sites and infrastructure significantly. China Tower, one of the major telecom firms in China, had stated that it had owned around 96% of small cells, DAS sites, and macro towers in China in 2019. The company had also stated that it had invested over US$17 billion in the capital since 2015. The United States, South Korea, and Japan have also made a substantial impact on 5G real estate development. Europe has also invested considerable resources in R&D and technology development of 5G real-estate networks and solutions through the 5G Private-Public-Partnership. Based on these developments, the 5G real estate infrastructure network will become a major and essential part of the ecosystem.

3. 5G PPP Target Stakeholders

In this section, we have provided an overview of the 5G public-private partnership stakeholders. These actors have been instrumental in the development and enhancement of 5G technology worldwide. The 5G PPP Target model is given below:

FIGURE 1:     Overview of 5G Public-Private-Partnership Ecosystem

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

1. 5G Industry & R&D:
   1. Connectivity Providers: Small cell operators, tower manufacturers, mobile network operators, DAS solution providers, hotspot providers, and others.
   2. Technology Developers and providers: Equipment providers, chipset and component manufacturers, and others.
2. 5G Financing Bodies & Policy Makers:
   1. Policy Makers: CEPT, ECC, CISA, TRAI, NITI AYOG, and others.
   2. Financing Bodies: National, regional, local agencies, private firms.
3. Standards and Open Source Organisations:
   1. Standardization Organisation: 3GPP, ASTM, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and others.
   2. Open-Source Organisation: Cloudify, OpenRoadM, free5GC, open5Gcore, and others.
4. Industry Verticals:
   1. Automotive: Vehicle Manufacturers, technology providers, and others.
   2. Farming and Agriculture
   3. Energy: utility, power consumption, smart grid operators, and others.
   4. Healthcare: health firms, insurance firms, supply chain partners, and others.
   5. Smart Cities
   6. Transport & Logistics: rail, maritime, road operators, and others.
   7. Other industries

As 5G technology evolves, these groups and associations have been continuously identifying and finding new parties for association in the new 5G evolution. The above diagram shows the actors and the roles they play in the 5G market. Furthermore, with the increase in several measures, such as regulations, scrutiny, and global technology rivalry and challenges, the number of actors involved in the 5G ecosystem has surged significantly. In the above diagram, there are four components. First, the players involved in the 5G industry and R&D provide connectivity solutions and other related equipment. These companies are also involved in research and development and explore new opportunities through collaborations, partnerships, and joint ventures. Second, policy builders and financing bodies are the ones that have been defining the new 5G working and eco-system. The governments worldwide have been playing an instrumental role in setting these policies and also providing financial assistance and investment to the stakeholders involved. Third, standard organizations have played an instrumental role in the 5G ecosystem. These organizations have complied with the new technologies and offer standard procedures regarding those aspects. Fourth, industry verticals, such as healthcare and manufacturing, have played an imperative role in the 5G ecosystem. Moreover, the role of stakeholders, ranging from small to large, is further projected to advance the telecom revolution in the coming years.

4. 5G Real Estate Architecture

4.1. 5G Network Architecture

Operators worldwide have been integrating new and advanced 5G networks with the existing and available 4G networks to offer a streamlined and continuous connection to their users. 5G network architecture has illustrated and showed 4G and 5G working together, with the local, regional and central servers offering content faster for low latency and user applications. The architecture diagram is given below:

FIGURE 2:     Overview of 5G Network Architecture

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

A 5G network architecture usually consists of two imperative components, known as Core Network and Radio Access Network.

The Core Network, also known as the data and mobile exchange network, manages the internet, data, and mobile voice connections. Many of the novel and advanced features of 5G also include network slicing and function virtualization for several services and applications. The following diagram shows the illustration between local and regional cloud servers offering content to users for vehicle collision avoidance functions:

FIGURE 3:     5G Uses an In-Vehicle Collision Avoidance System

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

The selection of advanced RAN solutions and core networks is imperative to the 5G speed and lesser response times.

Network Slicing and NVF (also known as network function virtualization) have been imperative to the 5G real estate infrastructure advancement and growth. The increase in the adoption of digitization by small, medium, and large enterprises, has generated a significant demand for advanced technological solutions. Industries such as healthcare and manufacturing are projected to benefit from an extensive 5G network and solutions. For instance, healthcare and emergency services, to our projections, will be operating on an advanced network slice independently from other applications and users.

The Radio Access Network contains different types of cells and equipment, such as telecom towers, small cells, and DAS solutions, that connect various types of wireless devices and mobile users to the main imperative network.

• Small cells are the most imperative feature of advanced 5G networks that are placed at the new mmWave frequencies and bandwidth, where the connection is at a shorter distance. To offer streamlined and continuous connections, small cells are projected to play a significant role in the 5G network ecosystem.
• 5G macrocells have been using MIMO (Multiple Input and Output) antennas known for their multiple connections and elements to send or receive simultaneous data and output.

4.2. 5G Functional Architecture

FIGURE 4:     5G Functional Architecture

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

5. 5G Real Estate Infrastructure, by Classification

5.1. Introduction

The 5G Real Estate Infrastructure has been classified and segmented between telecom and cell towers, small cells, and DAS solutions. These elements work together to form a comprehensive and elaborative functioning 5G system. 5G cell towers have been used to transmit new radio signals for extensive coverage. With the increase in the number of mobile phone users and the number of internet connections, there has been a demand for cell towers worldwide. Small cells have also been projected to register extensive demand in the coming years. According to several official telecom industry sources, by 2026, over 38 million small cells are projected to be deployed. Enterprises are projected to have a significant share in the small cell deployment, followed by urban and rural service and solutions providers. DAS solutions are projected to register extensive growth in the coming years. A distributed antenna system has been used to bring cellular and mobile coverage to areas where it is difficult to send a signal from outdoor 5G cell towers. With the rise in the number of stakeholders in the 5G ecosystem, the real estate infrastructure division has been projected to register significant growth in the coming years.

5.2. 5G Cell Towers

5.2.1. Overview

The 5G towers are known as telecommunication sites capable of transmitting 5G new radio signals for wide-area coverage. Their height ranges from 50 to 200 feet and is designed to blend in the natural environment limiting aesthetic impact. They use a combination of high, medium, and low-frequency bands for several connectivity use cases. For instance, macrocell antennas can be deployed in the towers for the efficient delivery of low-frequency cellular coverage to several devices in a large region. Additionally, the unique feature of low band 5G is that it can travel from a far distance and can penetrate the windows, or even walls, and many other physical barriers.

However, certain factors affect the 5G cell towers’ coverage capabilities, such as surrounding vegetation, antenna orientation and height, the frequency band used for transmission, and building materials such as bricks, concrete, and glass. The tower is segregated into types of locations, such as ground and rooftop towers. On the basis of the frequency bands, the towers are distributed as high bands, medium bands, and low bands.

Key Driving Factors

One of the primary factors contributing to the growth in the 5G tower market is the growing trend of purchasing 5G devices globally. Plus, the demand for internet use has been at its peak in recent years. Due to this, many network providers are working on expanding their network capacity and coverage facilities. They are also stepping up to suspend overage caps that offer lower wireless cost services and broadband services with no cancellation services. Additionally, due to the outbreak of Covid-19, it was projected to impact the sale of 5G devices, mainly smartphones, but the smartphone market during this period experienced a growth. This paved the way for the rise in the provision of network services.

Moreover, in addition to the Information and communication technology (ICT), the advancements in smart factories and autonomous vehicles are also expected to boost the demand for the 5G network services with high internet speed, expanded network capacity, wireless and broadband services, and removal of excess caps at reduced costs. As these features add momentum to the industrial growth and cite the report by increasing the productivity of industries, the tower projects are expected to show rapid growth. Additionally, 5G towers are powered by cloud-based cored. This allows physical functions to move around the network and be virtualized. To deliver an ultra-low latency to the updated software to make it easier to new features, the new technology needs to install the 5G towers in the locality.

5.2.2. Architecture

The given figure illustrates the working of a cell tower. There are several tower components included in the process, ranging from the elevated structure, antennas, equipment, and additional utilities:

1. Cell Phone Tower Structure: There are different types of telecom and cell towers available, ranging from monopole, guyed, lattice, and others. The operators select the tower based on its requirement and whether it is compatible with the rooftop or ground.
2. Radio Frequency equipment: These types of equipment plays an imperative role in the cell tower working process. They are mainly of two different types, outdoor, indoor, or roof applicable and mounted. Radiofrequency equipment helps convert baseband information into the form which is to be received by the radio frequency antennas.
3. Radio Frequency Antennas: Each cell and telecom tower uses different types of multiple antennas on its structure. Around 3 to 18 antennas are being hosted on a single site. With an increase in the capacity of the users and subscribers, the number of antennas potentially increases.
4. Other utilities include power supply, from AC to DC. It also hosts a battery backup system in case of power shutdown or failure.

FIGURE 5:     Cell Phone Tower Working Process

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

5.3. 5G Small Cells

5.3.1. Overview

The small cells are deployed in outdoor and indoor environments for the rapid delivery of data services to customers. They are low-power base stations that are used to improve the network capacity and coverage by helping to bolster the wireless connectivity of end-users. They play a very vital role in 5G networks. At present, they are mostly deployed under low-frequency bands to deliver an improved bandwidth service. The small cells deliver 5 G-powered applications in enterprises that include corporate offices, manufacturing, distribution facilities, and entertainment or public venues such as stadiums, shopping malls, or even hotels. In the last few years, to overcome 5G coverage limitations, small cells are playing a vital role as key solutions.

The small cell is available in various types, such as Microcell, metro cell, Femtocell, and Picocell. The demand for femtocell is expected to grow due to the growing demand in small enterprises and homes. Other than homes and small enterprises, the deployment of the small cell is also applied in medium enterprises, large enterprises, consumers, and single or home offices. Due to the unique feature of small cells hiding in the smaller areas with the provision of high bandwidth is boosting its demand from the small and medium enterprises. Whereas by operating environment, the market is segmented into the indoor operating environment and outdoor operating environment. Because of the improved network coverage and high indoor network connectivity, the deployment of the small cells is more in the indoor operating environment compared to the outdoor one.

Key Market Drivers

One of the key driving factors for the small cell market is the citizen broadband radio service band. It offers a new spectrum resource that is allocated for indoor mobile networks. Its indoor use frees up all valuable licensed spectrum. Many market players are redefining small indoor cells with the most cost-effective and high-performance indoor radio system that addresses a range of indoor environments with common solutions. The deployment of Citizen broadband radio service eliminates the co-channel interference between indoor and macro networks. It also enhances user experience and simplifies network integration efforts compared to Wi-Fi offloading. It provides several operational benefits to operators, CIOs, IT managers, building owners, and campuses with several building sizes and user traffic. Due to the increasing demand for network coverage in smaller areas and wireless transmitters, the demand for small cells is growing.

Moreover, in places like offices, airports, stadiums, and factories, the advanced indoor connectivity propels the 5G use cases. The small cells are deployed where the microcell coverage is very poor, and power is unavailable all day. Throughput testing and unit size reduction can reduce the deployment cost as well.

5.3.2. Architecture

To allow efficient and productive functioning, large deployments of small cells will be a key factor for the growth of the 5G ecosystem. The backhauling and architecture structure of the small cell includes macro base stations, which function through wired and wireless backhauling mechanisms. Moreover, cloud-based architecture, cooperation through anchor base stations, and multi-hopping at short-range units has been the key factor in small cell deployment. The backhaul requirements vary with respect to the location of small cells, the total cost of the connections, target and latency quality, and the overall load intensity of the small cells. The given figure illustrates the backhauling and the architectural mechanism of the small cell network.

There has been a surge in demand for wired-based backhaul connections and solutions, as they offer high reliability and can go through bigger distances. However, as the small cells serve a lesser traffic load, wireless solutions are also projected to play a significant role. Therefore, it has been considered that the backhaul transmission of 5G small cells would leverage the combination of wireless and wired connections and solutions. The major wireless backhaul solutions usually leverage the exploitation of the mm-wave spectrum in a 60 to 80GHz band.

FIGURE 6:     Evolution of 5G Small Cell Network

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

5.4. Das Solutions

5.4.1. Overview

Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is a network made up of spatially separated antenna nodes connected to a common source through a transport medium that provides wireless service in a specific geographical area or structure. It can be deployed indoors, that is, iDAS, or even outdoors, that is, oDAS. Their elevations are usually at or below a clutter level, and nodes are compacted. DAS can be implemented by using feeders and passive splitters or by using active-repeater amplifiers to overcome the feeder losses. By implementing DAS, indoor WIFI can be propagated for commercial uses. They can be deployed inside a building to increase wireless signals. They can also be placed in a large structure such as a corporate headquarters or stadium. They are often placed on the top utility poles, traffic signal poles, and streetlight poles.

There are different types of distributed antenna systems such as Active, Passive, Digital, and Hybrid. It is applicable in the sectors such as Enterprise DAS and public safety DAS. Along with the telecommunication sector, the demand for the DAS is increasing in other sectors, such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, government, sports, and entertainment.

Key Market Drivers

One of the prominent factors boosting the growth of the DAS market is public safety. To avoid the rate of deaths due to fires in the country has paved the way for rising DAS adoption owing to the increasing significance in public safety. According to the regulations by International Fire Code, 95% of coverage is required in all the areas. Moreover, according to the National Fire Protection Association, 99% of coverage is needed in places of vital importance, especially those designated by the local fire department. The DAS market has also experienced growing penetration of high-speed internet technologies, especially 5G, which has led to modifications in the public safety and building of wireless DAS to support such high internet speed. This has allowed extended reach and promoted the market’s growth globally, especially in developed countries that have adopted a digital and high-speed internet systems.

Moreover, the growing trend of developing smart cities in developed and developing countries has also led to the rapid applications of public safety wireless DAS in many residential and commercial building areas. This has a positive impact on the global DAS market, particularly in the public safety in-building wireless sectors. Furthermore, rising mobile data traffic, rising need for spectrum efficiency, the Internet of Things resulting in the proliferation of connected devices, and increasing consumer demand for extended network coverage as well as uninterrupted connectivity has also led to a boost in demand for the advanced antenna system. Several market players are chasing this rising demand as an opportunity and implementing various strategies to boost the productivity and installation of more DAS.

6. Competitive Analysis

6.1. Market Lucrativeness

With the rise in the number of smartphones and the growth in mobile traffic, the demand for advanced 5G real estate infrastructure equipment and solutions is projected to surge significantly in the coming years. According to the data given by the World Bank, there were more than 4.5 billion internet users in 2021. The number of firms offering cell tower, small cell, and DAS solutions have been projected to grow at a major rate in the coming years. . For instance, in June 2021, American Tower Corporation announced to acquire Telxius Towers, which comprised around 20,000 communication sites in Spain and Germany for approximately 6.2 billion euros. Other key players have also been projected to make a considerable impact in the market during the next few years. In April 2021, SBA Communications Corporation announced the sale of its first cell tower securitization. According to the company, wireless service providers witness advancements in 5G network services, and the demand for telecom assets is projected to grow.

Many market players came up with various developments that boosted the market growth of small cells worldwide. For instance, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, in May 2021, launched two indoor 5G products named AIR 1279 and Ericsson Radio Dot 4459. The Antenna Integrated Radio 1279 with 800 MHz is claimed to provide double performance by offering advanced software features and beamforming capabilities with an optimized total cost of ownership. Whereas the Radio Dot 4459 has been designed to support CBRS New radio which is of 150 MHz wide broadcast band with C-Band spectrum. In September 2020, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Launched an integrated 5G mm-Wave small cell for use indoors as a part of full sites in the company of 5G in-building products. This small cell by Samsung will help provide an enhanced 5G and seamless experience for users in indoor environments. The Link Cell is one of the first to provide wireless operators with mm-Wave indoor small cells.

The firms offering DAS solutions are also projected to surge in the coming years. For instance, In December 2021, Public Safety DAS announced using Bi-Directional Amplifier technology, which offers 2-way radio communication and enhances it through an antenna system. In January 2020, NEC Corporation, a leading company in the integration of network technologies and IT, announced the development of a millimeter-wave Distributed antenna system to use the 5G millimeter-wave spectrum efficiently. In May 2020, SOLiD launched edgeROU, a fiber-to-edge remote unit for a product family of ALLIANCE DAS. The edgeROU is specifically designed for solving the challenges experienced by mobile users in the building. It is based on the proven ALLIANCE technology committed to delivering anywhere, any time, seamless service customers expect. In February 2021, AT&T installed a 5G DAS across the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Puget healthcare system, with a pilot plan in applications in the healthcare sector using mobile edge computing.

6.2. Cell Tower Players Comparison Table

Companies Mentioned	No. of Towers Operated & Managed (in Thousands)	Types of Towers Provided Rooftop    GROUND-BASED	Tenancy Ratio
china tower corporation	2023000	YES                   YES	1.66X
american tower corporation	186000	YES                   YES	2.6X
INDUS TOWERS LTD.	179225	YES                   YES	2.0X
CELLNEX TELECOM	71000	YES                   YES	1.46X
VANTAGE TOWERS	82000	YES                   YES	1.95X

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

6.3. Small Cell Players Comparison Table

Companies Mentioned	Model Name	Technology	Cell radius	Frequency Range
LM ERICSSON	Ericsson radio dot 4459	UMTS, LTE	½ TO 1 MILE	800MHz
SAMSUNG	samsung link cell	UMTS, LTE	2 TO 15 MILES	28GHz
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES	pico, atomcell & lampsite	UMTS,   HSPA, LTE	2 TO 15 MILES, 750 ft	700MHz to 2.6GHz
NEC EUROPE	fp813, fpa1624, mimo aas	UMTS, HSPA, LTE	250 meter	1710-2170MHz
ZTE CORPORATION	zte’S QCELL SERIES	UMTS, HSPA, LTE	2 to 15 miles	100-300MHz

Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence

7. Conclusion

5G is expected to bring imperative changes to people's lives in the next few years. With the rise in the adoption of digitization by enterprises, government institutions, and other players, the demand for real estate infrastructure has been projected to grow significantly. In the next few years, 5 G-based solutions have been expected to become a key element of global property, commercial and residential infrastructure. The growth in adopting renewable and clean energy, with imperative elements, like gas and water, is projected to drive the monetization of 5G networks.

Operators have to ensure comprehensive and proper network planning with alignment with global telecom standardization policies. Furthermore, the 5G infrastructure planning design must also refine on the basis of the B2H, B2B, and B2C service requirements.

In conclusion, 5G real estate infrastructure has been projected to become a key core of mobile networks in the modern telecom era.  Major stakeholders and players will continue to work with the governing bodies, users, and consumers to increase and enhance the adoption of new 5G-based solutions.

About the Author

Rohil Mahajan is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence LLP. Rohil has a strong background in qualitative research. His strong suit is gathering and analyzing key market data to assist businesses in gaining or maintaining a competitive advantage. Visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com to read more of her articles and learn more about various global markets.