We're number... six. Analysis puts UK behind Switzerland and Kuwait in 5G adoption
- Reference: 1591344068
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/06/05/were_number_six_analysis_puts/
- Source link:
Research firm OMDIA's 5G Market Progress Assessment report ranks nations based on five criteria: the amount of spectrum available; commercial operator launches; the amount of network coverage; consumer 5G adoption; and the wider 5G ecosystem.
Leading the pack, predictably, is South Korea. That's hardly surprising, considering it was the [1]first country to launch a commercial 5G network . South Korea also benefits from having a domestic producer of 5G infrastructure and handsets alike, namely Samsung.
South Korea to spend £290 million on 5G land grab [2]READ MORE
That rapidly translated to consumer uptake, with 4.67 million 5G users by the end of 2019, and network coverage across 90 per cent of the country. Unusually, 5G is increasingly available via cheaper MVNOs, rather than exclusively via the premium mainline carriers.
Crucially, as argued by OMDIA, this allowed South Korea to overcome the major causes of trepidation that have slowed 5G rollout in other countries: namely a lack of vendor and handset availability.
"Limited coverage, device availability and cautious launches has limited take-up in other global markets," said Stephen Myers, principal analyst at the outfit.
"However, expansive coverage rolled out by Sunrise and Swisscom in Switzerland, [Qatar telco] Ooredoo and Vodafone in Qatar and Kuwait's three service providers has rivalled Korea for breadth of market coverage."
The UK's ranking puts it ahead of some unusual contenders. In seventh place, for example, is Finland — home of Nokia. China sits in eighth place. Sweden, home of Ericsson, doesn't even feature in the analyst's list of the top 22 nations for 5G.
Blighty's relative strength stems from [3]enthusiastic [4]5G adoption across all carriers, in addition to strong support from central government, which has pledged money to ensure availability in rural areas.
"The UK government has identified 5G as a key technology to assist in its goal in delivering nationwide Gigabit broadband by 2025," said Myers.
FPGA biz Xilinx pops ACAP in Samsung's 5G network gear [5]READ MORE
"The UK government's £1.1bn digital connectivity package, including the £400m Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund will support investment in new fixed and mobile networks, through programs such as the 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme," he added.
It's also pertinent to note that the UK government is playing an active role in efforts to diversify the 5G supply chain. This comes as a result of national security fears regarding Huawei, which some regard as inextricably linked to the Chinese government.
According to a recent report from [6]Bloomberg , the government is in talks with South Korea's Samsung, as well as Japanese tech giant NEC, to increase their involvement in the UK's 5G infrastructure ecosystem.
Neither firm, nor the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, have formally confirmed the existence of these talks. We've asked for comment, and will update this post should we hear more. ®
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2019/06/13/germany_and_south_korea_go_nuts_for_5g_while_blighty_gets_testbed_crumbs/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2013/12/18/5g_korea_investment_network_seoul/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2019/05/22/ee_5g_rollout/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/24/vodafone_and_o2_cosy_up_to_share_5g_gear/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2020/04/16/xilinx_versal_acap_samsung_5g_gear/
[6] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-03/u-k-opens-talks-with-huawei-rival-as-johnson-confronts-china
You are number six...
https://youtu.be/zalndXdxriI?t=36
Rural areas?
central government, which has pledged money to ensure availability in rural areas.
So, not going to happen then?
My nearest 5G coverage is over 100 miles away. If that puts us at 6th, heaven help country 166
Re: Rural areas?
Yeah, but Wales is outside of the M25 or the Barnard Castle corridor so who cares? ;-)
Good point...
I'm between Durham and Barnard Castle, so we may get coverage at last.
Re: Good point...
Nah, only if you put up a sign saying "Free Eye Tests Here"
I find it interesting that the UK government while bending to pressure from the US to drop Huawei because of alleged security fears that are so far unproven, is possibly in talks with another potential 5G supplier Samsung,with a history of corruption and dodgy dealings.
Samsung also has large manufacturing plants in China, so the only large difference between the two other than country of origin is that Samsung already enjoys a number of contract at numerous levels with US agencies.
That would be the same Samsung that supplies the radar to our naval ships.
Everyone manufactures or gets parts from China that's what the issues have been in the last few months.
Everyone manufactures or gets parts from China that's what the issues have been in the last few months.
I'd personally like to exile up every bean-counter that has 'offshored' local manufacturing and employment just to make more profit. It was a short sighted move back when Maggie was waving her handbag, and people really should know better by now.
Wait, I'm agreeing with the Donald. Nurse ...!
The UK's ranking puts it ahead of some unusual contenders. In seventh place, for example, is Finland — home of Nokia
The former company known as Nokia.
Samsung?
Samsung,with a history of corruption and dodgy dealings.
Well, what's wrong with that? This is the UK and US governments we're talking about. Corruption and dodgy dealings is what they do best. They lurv Samsung.
Re: Samsung?
Ahh! So the right people haven't been lubricated sufficiently?
Willy waving
The industry came up with the moniker "5G" largely for marketing purposes. In many situations and for most users, there will be little difference between 4 and 5G in both good and bad ways: can't get a good 4G signal? 5G probably won't improve matters, either.
Sweden, home of Ericsson, doesn't even feature in the analyst's list of the top 22 nations for 5G.
Why would that surprise anyone? 5G makes most sense in areas with high population density, hardly a problem for Sweden outside the large cities and even there, the density of devices hardly approaches that of east Asia.