Smartphone announcements are the most important, but also include pocket routers, laptops and fixed wireless terminals for indoor and outdoor use.During the first 15 months, we did see launches of 95 5G devices with 180+ additional announcements (Source: GSA, April 2020).The 5G ecosystem differs towards the launch year for 4G on key points: These narrow gaps are a clear indicator first-mover advantage strategies rule for 5G networks. This reality is relevant for businesses to consider as the 5G market moves faster than what they experienced in the early days of 4G.
In some markets, all three carriers launched on the same day, and six months between first and last 5G launch is a large gap.
The initial performance difference between HSPA (maximum 168Mbps) and LTE (maximum 150Mbps) was small. Often with arguments that 3G was good enough.Few communications service providers launched in the first year of service.4G focused on the consumer value proposition.Communications service providers were choosing between first-mover and follower strategies, with significant variations between regions and within a given market.When looking back at when 4G networks were launched, a few things were characteristic:
IMPORTANCE OF 5G TECHNOLOGY WINDOWS
For 5G, the bias has shifted to a market where first-mover advantages rule. Businesses see first-mover advantages as the most important strategic priority for 5G, with narrow windows to target for leadership. In the 4G era, there was a choice between being a first mover and being a follower.