Countries across Asia, from Singapore to China, are leading the 5G standalone (SA) and next-generation networks rollout, building ultra-fast, cloud-native infrastructure that’s transforming industries, driving innovation, and reshaping how people, businesses, and cities connect.
The 5G next-generation networks revolution goes far beyond faster mobile speeds.
Asia is creating flexible, intelligent, and secure networks with advanced 5G SA core network systems that enable automation, remote healthcare, and smart industries-redefining what digital connectivity can achieve across economies and communities.
Asia’s Rapid Leap in 5G
The 5G rollout in Southeast Asia is accelerating, going from basic coverage to fully cloud-based networks. According to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025 report, there are now 39 commercial 5G networks in nine Asian countries, with 17 built on 5G standalone (SA) architecture.
Australia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea are nearing mass-market adoption, where 5G will power more than half of mobile connections by the end of the year.
Singapore was quick to take the lead.
Singtel’s nationwide 5G core network, launched in 2021, reached 95% population coverage in just one year. Nokia and Antina, a venture between M1 and StarHub, introduced Southeast Asia’s first shared SA network, while M1’s True 5G rollout delivered real 5G SA benefits such as higher reliability, speed, and seamless streaming.
Telecom leaders in Japan and Taiwan didn’t lag far behind. Nokia powered Taiwan Mobile’s SA deployment, while Japan’s KDDI and NTT DOCOMO turned to cloud-native cores for more resilient, low-latency connections.
By 2024, operators began testing ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) in robotics and logistics to show 5G’s growing role in industrial automation.
In parallel, 5G network slicing has become one of the most powerful tools in modern connectivity. Such partnerships as Comarch and ITOCHU Techno-Solutions with KDDI allow Japanese networks to slice and dedicate for specific industries, that will ensure stability and speed for manufacturing, healthcare, and public services.
South Korea and China show how scale drives innovation.
KT Corporation launched the world’s first commercial SA network in 2021, and SK Telecom’s Samsung-powered infrastructure reaches latencies as low as 10 milliseconds, essential for smart factories and connected transport. In China, investment in telecom infrastructure has been immense.
With 3.6 million 5G base stations, China Mobile now runs the world’s largest all-cloud core, achieving record speeds of 3 Gbps with Nokia and MediaTek, a milestone in enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB).
From 5G to 6G in Asia
Next-generation connectivity doesn’t stop at 5G for Asia. The region is readying for a 5G and 6G era in Asia with China, Japan, and South Korea investing in terahertz networks, AI-powered automation, and holographic communication.
The next wave will bring near zero latency and even smarter integration between humans and machines.
Yet, constructing 5G standalone (SA) demands a great deal of investment and cyber protection, but the divide prevents rural access. Governments and telecom companies are responding to these challenges by introducing more inclusive policies and their latest offerings of private 5G networks that will extend industrial connectivity beyond metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile, collaboration via initiatives, such as GSMA Open Gateway, propels a more interconnected Asia digital ecosystem, with operators like Singtel, SK Telecom, and China Mobile opening access to network APIs through their developer programs, marking an important milestone on the 5G advanced roadmap.
As 5G develops and 6G approaches, progress in Asia is setting the standard for the world.
Here, innovation, scale, and coordination across the region are making connectivity capability a reality and proving that 5G standalone (SA) is more than just faster internet. It’s the bedrock on which a smarter, better-connected future should be anchored.
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