Frost & Sullivan: 5G fuels demand for network drive testing

A recent report by Frost & Sullivan has revealed that the rise of high-capacity networks with enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine communications, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications are fueling the demand for higher-quality 5G new radio (NR) drive testing. The report is titled Global Mobile Network Drive Test Equipment Growth Opportunities. 

Driven by commercial 5G network deployments despite the pandemic, the global mobile network drive test equipment market is estimated to reach US$522.5mn by 2025 from US$253.2mn in 2020, expanding at a 15.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

Sujan Sami, Research Manager at Frost & Sullivan, said: “Deployment of fifth-generation new radio (5G NR) is creating complex and new drive testing requirements. Today, most 5G networks are rolled out in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band, increasing the demand for drive testing and propagation model tuning.

"Workflow automation and cloud analytics are new areas in which drive test solutions need to evolve to a higher level of market maturity. Also, more initiatives are in place to connect drive test solutions through the cloud, enabling immediate response and analysis via remote diagnostics streaming to a cloud-based orchestrated solution,” he added. 

Asia-Pacific expected to be the fastest-growing market for mobile network drive test equipment 

According to the report, The Asia-Pacific region, led by China, is expected to be the fastest-growing market for mobile network drive test equipment as the region pushes initiatives for smart cities and deploying 5G technologies. Similarly, with the significant adoption of 5G drive test equipment across industries, the North American market is projected to have the second-fastest growth rate. 

In comparison, slow market growth is expected for Europe and the rest of the world (RoW) due to limited 5G deployment and 5G being in the infancy stage, respectively.

How market participants can perceive growth prospects 

As the deployment of 5G NR networks inflates the demand for drive test equipment to support a wide range of test scenarios, market participants need to focus on the following to tap into the growth prospects, Frost & Sullivan recommends. 

• Innovative testing solutions: Vendors should develop 5G NR drive testing based on user-centric testing to address device performance challenges, including internal antenna positioning and interference.
• Cloud analytics: Test equipment suppliers should consider combining efficient cloud-based solutions with advanced intelligence solutions focused on artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) root-cause analysis.
• Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based solutions and satellite navigation: Offering comprehensive drone-based solutions combined with ground-level drive testing can provide superior 3D accessibility, coverage, and horizontal and vertical data.

Global Mobile Network Drive Test Equipment Growth Opportunities is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan's Industrial research and analyses