The 3 Biggest Challenges in 5G Advanced Adoption for Mobile Network Operators

Challenge 1: Slow Adoption of 5G Standalone (SA)

One of the biggest obstacles to 5G Advanced is the sluggish rollout of 5G SA.

While the industry buzzes with anticipation for the advanced features promised by 5G-A, many carriers are hesitant to make the leap to 5G SA—a critical foundation for unlocking the technology’s full capabilities. There are several reasons for their reluctance to fully invest:

Unproven ROI: Migrating to a cloud-native core demands substantial capital, and the path to a clear return on that investment remains uncertain.

Operational overhaul: The high upfront costs, integration complexity and cultural change required by a full commitment to 5G SA are complex and daunting.

Low urgency: Many MNOs view 5G SA as more of a value-add than a business-critical investment. There’s little pressure from consumers, enterprises or regulators, and 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) is already meeting essential needs.

Though justifiable, this hesitation means the industry stands at a crossroads: Operators must balance the long-term promise of 5G SA against immediate financial and technical constraints. Until this balance tips, legacy networks and risk aversion will continue to slow the widespread adoption of 5G Advanced.

Challenge 2: Finding the Right Use Case for 5G Advanced

Even after Standalone rollout, operators face new costs to enable 5G Advanced features. Release 17 RedCap devices, uplink improvements and 5G Advanced Release 18 functions (such as network slicing and AI orchestration) all demand their own infrastructure, device and OSS/BSS readiness. Chad Dunavant pointed out that spending trends have been slower than expected. “As companies look to scale, they’re doing it in chunks,” he said. “They’re looking for use cases that are going to help drive revenue.”

And operators are cautious—spending only where they see clear revenue potential.

Investments are focused on targeted upgrades, such as differentiated connectivity for events or private networks, rather than full-scale rollouts. While interest in 5G-A is high, operators need solid business cases before committing.

5G-A adoption isn’t just about technical readiness—it’s about financial justification. Until operators can link new features to revenue, large-scale deployment will remain limited.

Challenge 3: Spectrum Allocation and Device Ecosystem Gaps

A third barrier to 5G Advanced adoption for MNOs is insufficient spectrum allocation and lagging device ecosystem readiness. As 5G Advanced unlocks new capabilities like higher throughput and network slicing, operators need access to diverse and ample spectrum bands to take advantage of them. However, it's difficult for MNOs to plan and deploy future-proof networks due to restrictions like:

• Regulatory delays

• Fragmented allocation processes

• High spectrum costs

Compounding this challenge is the uneven readiness of the device ecosystem. While demand is growing, many handsets and IoT devices either lack support for critical 5G-A features or are slow to reach the market. With fewer than a dozen commercial RedCap models available, many IoT and wearable pilots are delayed until chipset and module options mature. The disconnect between network capabilities and device availability can dampen user uptake and delay revenue.

Operators must navigate both regulatory hurdles and ecosystem inertia as they coordinate with device manufacturers, governments and standards bodies to ensure that network advancements translate into real-world experiences for businesses and consumers alik

Looking Ahead: Setting Realistic Expectations for 5G Advanced in 2026

As the 5G Advanced journey continues, mobile network operators must approach the coming years with a blend of ambition and pragmatism. Maintaining steady momentum is essential to avoid losing ground in a complex and competitive market. Incremental progress—not overnight transformation—is the most realistic expectation for 2025 and 2026.

Targeted coverage strategies will play a pivotal role. Rather than pursuing sweeping, nationwide upgrades, operators should focus on high-value geographies and industry verticals where 5G-A features can deliver immediate impact. This approach allows for the efficient use of capital, enabling MNOs to demonstrate quick wins and build a foundation for broader adoption as device ecosystems and regulatory environments mature.

Perhaps most importantly, commercializing differentiated connectivity opportunities—such as network slicing, ultra-reliable low-latency communications and advanced IoT solutions—will help operators justify investments and unlock new revenue streams. By working closely with enterprise partners, standards bodies and device manufacturers, MNOs can bridge the gap between technical capability and tangible business outcomes.

Progress may be measured in milestones rather than leaps, but the outlook for 5G Advanced remains promising for those who commit to purposeful innovation.

Are You Ready for 5G Advanced?

Finding the balance between aspirational and achievable goals will look different for every operator. Whether the priority is handling 5G data at scale, increasing revenue for 4G and 5G services or quickly activating devices and subscribers, CSG can help .

Watch the full GSMA webinar for comprehensive insights into the state of 5G-A adoption for mobile network operators.