Some have estimated the cost of building 5G as between $500 billion and $1 trillion globally. That is not as scary a number as you might think. By some estimates, annual telco capex is between $160 billion and $345 billion.
As construction of the 5G network begins, we might expect capex to climb at least a bit. Mobile capex is perhaps $160 billion, while fixed and mobile capex might be about $345 billion.
The point is that $1 trillion is about what mobile carriers spend in about six years; what the whole industry spends in perhaps three years.
What will make a big difference is the ability to leverage 4G investments; phase the 5G build over time--perhaps more slowly than was the case for 4G, and take advantage of better technology, lower-cost open source technology and unlicensed spectrum assets.
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