This look at small cell deployments up to 2027 focuses on the results of the SCF’s survey of deployers including 69 mobile network operators (MNOs) and 32 other service providers such as private network operators (PNOs) and neutral hosts.

• The report is available from the SCF website (a short registration form to be filled)

The report forecasts that open networks, shared spectrum and new operating models can drive significant growth in small cell deployment.

Some key findings:

• The growth in small cells will result in deployments of 35 million radios by 2027.
• By 2024, the most common architecture for indoor enterprise locations will be a two-unit, one-split network based on Split 6, with a dominant 46% of deployers choosing this option for at least some of their planned rollouts.
• Rising prevalence of enterprise small cells deployed and operated together with edge compute and/or packet core.
• Manufacturing, utilities and energy, retail and transportation industries will be the biggest deployers of small cells in the period 2020-27.
• By 2027, the number of units deployed and run by neutral hosts will match the number deployed and run by private network operators (PNOs), at about one-third each.
• From 2023-27, PNOs will be the largest category of small cell operator, overtaking MNOs’ public networks from 2023.

The SCF is a Market Representation Partner (MRP) in 3GPP.

Download the report from the SCF website (a short registration form to be filled)