Ookla – A Global Reality Check on 5G SA and 5G Advanced

Summary

This report provides a comprehensive global overview of the status and progress of 5G Standalone (SA) networks and emerging 5G Advanced capabilities.

It highlights disparities in readiness and deployment across regions, with North America and early Asian adopters leading, Europe lagging, and the Gulf Cooperation Council showing strong performance. The report stresses that launching SA networks alone is insufficient without full optimization to realize their benefits.

Region: Global

Published: March 2026

Author(s): Ookla

Language: English

Tech drivers: AI Cybersecurity and privacy Mobile

Social drivers: Diversity and equality Virtualization

Geopolitical drivers: Economic conditions Political instability and conflicts Regulatory changes

Found an inaccuracy in the description? Let us know 🙌