India Emerges as a Global 5G Leader with Advanced Standalone Networks
India is now more advanced than many European countries in offering 5G standalone (5G SA), the latest form of 5G technology. SignalTracker data from May to October 2025 shows India leads in 5G SA adoption, with 20% of tests, compared to just 4% in the UK. This leapfrogging of interim 5G NSA stages highlights India's rapid progress in next-generation mobile infrastructure.
Recent research highlights India's leadership in 5G technology, particularly in the deployment of 5G standalone (5G SA) networks. Unlike many European countries that still rely on 5G non-standalone (5G NSA), India has moved quickly to adopt 5G SA, which operates independently of 4G networks and offers faster speeds, greater capacity, and lower latency. Data from SignalTracker between May and October 2025 shows that 24% of mobile tests in India were on 5G, with 20% specifically on 5G SA and only 4% on 5G NSA. In contrast, the UK had just 4% 5G SA, while Spain and Finland reached 10% and 15% respectively. India's minimal 'fake 5G' results further underscore the authenticity and maturity of its 5G rollout. This rapid advancement positions India as a global leader in next-generation mobile connectivity, setting a benchmark for other countries aiming to upgrade their networks.
