5G standalone
5G standalone (SA) is the gateway to new innovative applications, services and solutions through open APIs, differentiated connectivity and service-based architecture. Take your first steps to 5G standalone today and capture the value of tomorrow’s limitless innovation.
5G standalone explained
5G Standalone takes 5G performance to new heights, bringing new capabilities that deliver a more powerful user experience, enhanced network efficiency, and a world of new business opportunities.
Unlike 5G Non-Standalone networks, 5G Standalone is based exclusively on cloud-native 5G Core and 5G Radio architecture. This flexible and programmable cloud-native service-based architecture means that service providers can upgrade, create and deploy new services in hours rather than days or weeks, without impacting live services.
And the benefits don’t stop there. 5G SA capabilities combined with network exposure, automation, edge computing, local packet core gateway, and network slicing are raising the stakes for 5G service delivery – making networks more programmable, breaking out traffic at the network edge, and providing differentiated connectivity with guaranteed quality of service.
5G standalone: the facts
- Based on the 3GPP New Radio standard
- Simplified RAN and device architecture
- Leverages cloud-native 5G Core
- Supports advanced network-slicing functions

5G SA vs 5G NSA
Early 5G networks have been based on 5G non-standalone architecture, using a 5G Radio Access Network that anchors to existing Evolved Packet Core networks. 5G standalone, on the other hand, anchors to a cloud-native 5G Core network using service-based architecture. This lays the foundation for faster, automated, and more agile service orchestration, as well as enabling a host of powerful 5G performance- and service enablers.
Learn more in our article: Non-standalone and standalone – two standards-based paths to 5G
5G SA: key benefits and capabilities
Powerful user experience
Consistent low latency
5G standalone enables ultra-low latency in the milliseconds, supported by lower handover interruption time and other enablers, to deliver close to real-time communication with zero lag.
Better spectral efficiency
Advanced Multi-Layer Coordination, and increased LTE offload to 5G spectrum enables higher uplink and downlink data rates. Ericsson’s 5G standalone software toolkit enhances support for experience-based connectivity with high requirements on throughput, reliability, and latency.
Wider coverage
5G standalone multi-band carrier aggregation, including uplink carrier aggregation, can leverage multiple 5G spectrum frequencies to significantly improve uplink and downlink capacity across wider areas.
5G voice
5G standalone unlocks new 5G voice (VoNR) capabilities to enable near-instant call connections, lower latency voice communication, and higher quality audio through wider bandwidth.
Enhanced network efficiency
Higher energy efficiency
5G SA allow users to spend more time in 5G than 5G NSA, improving the energy efficiency of each gigabyte transmitted.
Advanced device support
Through RedCap device support and reduced signaling of the Inactive State feature, 5G standalone enables reduced device latency, complexity, and battery consumption, laying the groundwork for use case evolution.
Service agility and scale
5G Core’s cloud-native service-based architecture and cross-domain service orchestration means microservices can be scaled, reused and upgraded with minimal impact on running services.
Enhanced end-to-end security
Advanced encryption and identity protection is delivered through the 5G Core-integrated Ericsson Authentication Security Module, providing end-to-end security of 5G standalone networks.
Why move to 5G standalone?
The migration to 5G Standalone architecture offers a world of benefits for service providers, including:
- Enables ultra-low latency and faster access to higher data rates
- Enhances existing services such as enhanced mobile broadband, enhanced fixed wireless access, and 5G Voice
- Opens new market segments through new capabilities and technology support, such as network slicing, time-critical communication, RedCap devices, and edge user plane
- Enables service agility and scale through cloud-native, service-based architecture
Unlocking new revenue streams
5G standalone rollouts are rapidly increasing among leading service providers worldwide, unlocking transformative new revenue possibilities across enterprises, consumers, governments, and public services.
Key revenue enablers
Featured business cases
The path to 5G SA: three routes to get there
Route 1: LTE > 5G NSA > 5G SA
Service providers deploying 5G non-standalone architecture as an intermediate step to full 5G standalone architecture. This has made it possible for service providers to switch on 5G services as quickly as possible, while using LTE as a fallback.
Learn more about Swisscom’s journey from LTE to 5G non-standalone
Route 2: LTE > 5G SA
Service providers that take the more direct migration route from LTE radio access and EPC networks to full 5G standalone architecture from day one. One notable example is Indian service provider Jio that adopted a forward-looking 5G strategy from the get-go, providing differentiated services shaped by the inherent capabilities of 5G standalone.
Learn more about Jio’s journey from LTE to 5G standalone
Route 3: 5G SA
Service providers and enterprises deploying a cellular network for the very first time, for example public greenfield deployments, or private deployments of dedicated- or campus 5G networks.
Learn more about Helmut Schmidt University’s journey to a private 5G standalone campus network
5G Core is the starting point for a migration to 5G SA
Begin your journey to 5G SA with Ericsson
As a 5G market leader, supporting network deployments around the globe, we’re here to help you plan for a smooth migration to 5G standalone networks – tailored to your business and technology goals.