Ookla’s interactive 5G Map tracks 5G rollouts in cities across the world
The 5G Map is updated on a weekly basis
It displays 5G deployments and operators across the world
5G or the Fifth Generation network technology is finally becoming mainstream this year. Not only have multiple smartphone makers like Samsung, Huawei, LG, Xiaomi, Oppo and others launched 5G-ready smartphones, infrastructure for the technology has already been put in place and we are witnessing both limited and commercial rollouts of the high-speed, low-latency network across the world. While 5G is still a while away from commercial rollout in India (expected by 2020-21), the network is already being implemented in the US, Europe, Australia and other more developed parts of the world.
To keep track of 5G’s rollout across the globe, Speedtest-maker Ookla has rolled out a global 5G Map which tracks network deployment and operator status for 5G anywhere and everywhere. The interactive 5G map created by Ookla is updated weekly to add newer locations where 5G networks are being deployed. Individual pins on the map indicate countries where 5G has been rolled out and one can zoom into the interactive map to further see which cities have 5G penetration and to what extent. The map also displays information on operators who have rolled out 5G and the status of rollout is divided into two parts: limited and commercial. Ookla explains that “Limited availability is when a 5G network is present but devices are limited to select users, usually in a testing environment, and Commercial availability refers to a 5G network where any consumer can purchase a device for use on this network.”
Ookla says that the 5G Map currently features identified deployments based on corporate press releases and other publicly available communications. Ookla’s own data will eventually be used once consumers start performing 5G speed tests on their devices using Ookla’s Speedtest tool. So far, Ookla has identified 303 5G deployments around the world, provided by 20 operators in 294 cities.
5G operators and city-wise rollout
As per Ookla’s data, Swiss operators Swisscom and Sunrise lead in 5G deployments by making the network accessible in a combined total of 225 cities, each with commercial availability. 21 cities in the United States have 5G availability as of now. Two of these rollouts are being launched by AT&T with limited availability. Verizon launched their 5G network with commercial availability in two Midwest cities: Chicago and Minneapolis. 16 cities in South Korea have limited 5G availability and 2 have commercial availability. In South Korea, 5G availability is being served by SK Telecom, LG Uplus and KT Telecom.
In Australia, Telstra and Optus provide limited availability 5G networks in 12 cities. The Ookla 5G Map also tracks 5G rollouts in a number of European countries (Estonia, Finland, Spain and Italy) as well as in Qatar, South Africa and United Arab Emirates.
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