Why Ericsson, GSMA & Deloitte Back 5G’s Commercial Shift

In 2025, 5G is shifting from promise to commercial reality. Operators are deploying advanced architectures while focusing on business models that deliver returns on substantial investments. The adoption of 5G Standalone (SA) networks and cloud-native architectures is central to the evolution.

Migrating from 4G-dependent networks enables operators to roll out features faster, achieve deeper automation and deliver scalable, resilient services. The 5G mobile core segment is projected to grow by 15% in 2025, driven by new SA launches.

Andre Fuetsch of Crosspoint Capital Partners notes: “Maturing our 5G Standalone networks is enabling significant enterprise value across industries.

"Our nationwide deployment of 5G RedCap for IoT applications and priority network slicing for public safety transforms business connectivity.”

Monetisation strategies: FWA and network APIs

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is the most immediate path to monetising 5G. Deloitte calls FWA “the sole current path for 5G monetisation,” with operators leveraging mid-band spectrum to provide competitive home and business broadband. Global FWA adoption is expected to grow 20% year-on-year in 2025.

For enterprise markets, network APIs and open gateways are unlocking new revenue streams. The GSMA Open Gateway initiative standardises APIs across operators, allowing developers to integrate functions like enhanced quality of service, location services or SIM-based verification.

With 73 operator groups, covering roughly 80% of global connections, committed to the initiative, telcos are turning APIs into a B2B growth engine. Kearney’s 2025 5G Success Index refers to it as the “Impact Era,” where maturing 5G networks reach their commercial potential through API-based services.

Open RAN, which disaggregates radio hardware and software, is advancing cautiously.

EY research from July 2024 reveals 58% of telecom executives expect limited deployment in wide-area networks by the end of 2025, with ABI Research forecasting wider adoption after 2027.

For now, operators prioritise proven revenue paths, such as FWA and APIs, while treating Open RAN as a strategic, future-focused initiative.

Preparing for 6G

While monetising 5G, the industry is laying the groundwork for 6G. In 2025, 3GPP standardisation efforts are defining service requirements for Release 20, with Release 21 marking the start of formal 6G technical specifications aligned with ITU’s IMT-2030 framework. Early commercial 6G systems are expected in the early 2030s.

6G will go beyond incremental improvement, integrating AI for autonomous networks, combining sensing and communication and offering seamless terrestrial, satellite and aerial connectivity.

Expected capabilities include data rates above one terabit per second and microsecond latency. Potential applications include real-time holographic meetings, city-scale digital twins, fully autonomous transport and immersive mixed-reality experiences.

In a LinkedIn post, Magnus Frodigh, Vice-President at Ericsson Research, said: “Through our collaborative 6G research, Ericsson is ensuring not only a connected, intelligent society but also one that is inclusive, connecting the unconnected and enabling digital opportunities globally.”

Telecommunications in 2025 are defined by the commercialisation of 5G and the preparation for 6G.

Operators are focusing on FWA and network APIs for immediate returns, planning Open RAN for the longer term and investing in 6G to shape the next decade of connectivity.