Spirent’s Stephen Douglas discussed the company’s annual 5G report with EE World, highlighting the ongoing development of 5G and the growing influence of AI.
5G development started gaining traction around 2014-2015, particularly with the introduction of 5G New Radio (5G NR). Following the release of the first 5G standards in December 2018 and the subsequent non-standalone (NSA) deployments, excitement around 5G skyrocketed.
As we reach the halfway point of the expected ten-year development cycle for wireless generations, the focus is shifting towards business use cases rather than consumer-facing enhancements. Despite the discussions around 6G, the second half of 5G’s deployment cycle is witnessing significant advancements, as highlighted in Spirent’s 2025 5G report, It’s halftime for 5G.
Fixed-wireless access emerges as a key trend
The report emphasizes the growing popularity of fixed-wireless access (FWA), which is expanding beyond rural areas to urban settings, enterprises, and multi-unit dwellings. The deployment of 5G repeaters is poised to improve connectivity, especially in indoor environments where mmWave signals face challenges.
5G FWA utilizes sub-6 GHz frequency bands, leading to potential congestion issues within homes. This has resulted in a focus on testing customer-premises equipment (CPE) to ensure optimal Wi-Fi performance and customer experience.
Additionally, the report highlights the emergence of reduced capability (RedCap) IoT devices, designed for low-power, long-lasting operations. The focus is now shifting towards testing network connectivity for these devices.
Network slicing and private networks
Network slicing, a concept introduced early in 5G development, is gaining traction in private network deployments. The report underscores the acceptance of hybrid public/private networks and the integration of enhanced 5G capabilities like RedCap and access traffic steering switching and splitting (ATSSS).
Private networks are exploring the integration of RedCap-capable devices, potentially replacing NB-IoT devices used in LTE networks.
AI and security are also key focus areas, with a growing emphasis on security testing beyond specifications and the adoption of AI-driven network upgrades to accommodate increasing data loads.
The report suggests that we may be at halftime in the 5G development journey, but the longevity of network technologies indicates a continued evolution beyond the initial ten-year cycle. The future of networks in 2025 and beyond remains an intriguing prospect.
