The 5G base station market was valued at approximately US$ 20.53 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to US$ 65.70 billion by 2030, reflecting an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.0% during the period from 2022 to 2030.

The 5G base station serves as a fundamental component of the 5G network, facilitating wireless coverage and enabling the transmission of wireless signals between wired communication systems and wireless devices. The design and configuration of these base stations significantly influence the deployment strategies of 5G networks. As the frequency increases, signal propagation experiences greater attenuation, necessitating a denser network of base stations to maintain effective coverage. In May 2022, China emerged as a leader in 5G infrastructure by establishing approximately 1.6 million 5G base stations, marking it as the first nation to develop a large-scale 5G network utilizing an independent networking model. By the end of 2022, China had added an additional 887,000 5G base stations, bringing the total to 2.312 million, which represents over 60% of the global total.

In addition, numerous companies worldwide are actively working to expand their 5G base station networks. For example, in December 2022, Indian telecommunications providers, including Reliance, Jio, and Bharti Airtel, collectively deployed around 33,000 base stations to enhance their 5G services. Furthermore, NEC Corporation introduced two new models of integrated compact base stations from the UNIVERGE RV1000 series. These models combine baseband units and radio units (RUs) within a single enclosure, targeting small-scale network applications. NEC commenced sales of the standalone (SA) UNIVERGE RV1200 base station, which supports the 4.7GHz band, and the non-standalone (NSA) UNIVERGE RV1300 base station, compatible with the 28GHz band, starting in the first quarter of 2022 in Japan. Consequently, the introduction of new models is significantly contributing to the growth of the 5G base station market.

The low latency characteristic of 5G networks unlocks new opportunities for services that require near-instantaneous response times. Applications such as telemedicine, augmented reality (AR) devices, and communication between autonomous vehicles benefit greatly from this reduced latency. The 5G network aims to achieve a latency of under ten milliseconds, with optimal conditions allowing for delays as low as one millisecond, enabling real-time data transfer. The advancements in 5G mobile networks facilitate minimal delays, paving the way for innovative applications, including immersive virtual reality experiences, multiplayer mobile gaming, robotic automation in factories, and applications for self-driving vehicles, where rapid response is critical.

Focusing on autonomous vehicles, existing cellular networks already provide a range of tools that cater to industry needs. The evolution of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) to 5G V2X is expected to create synergies between the automotive sector and other industries transitioning to 5G. The high throughput, low latency, and enhanced reliability of 5G will enable vehicles to exchange rich, real-time data, thereby supporting connected and autonomous driving experiences. For instance, technologies like LTE Cat-M and Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) are effective for low-power sensor communications. To facilitate complex vehicle maneuvers such as deceleration, lane changes, or route adjustments, vehicles must be capable of receiving and sharing information about their driving intentions in real-time. This requirement for low latency can be addressed through the development of a comprehensive 5G system architecture that ensures optimized end-to-end vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity.

As the reliance on cloud services, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for high-speed data transmission coupled with low latency. The necessity for real-time interactions and the rising prevalence of data-intensive applications across various industries are driving the demand for high-speed and low-latency data solutions. 5G base stations play a vital role in fulfilling these requirements by providing the essential infrastructure for reliable, high-speed connectivity, making them a critical element in the evolving telecommunications landscape. Thus, the escalating need for low latency and high-speed data is a significant factor propelling the growth of the 5G base station market.