The telecommunications market is saturated. With traditional consumer markets offering limited growth opportunities, telecoms operators are starting to look beyond established revenue streams, to new opportunities that will help secure their future. Private 5G networks have emerged as a solution and a rapidly expanding market, one that reached $3.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $4.9 billion in 2025.
While major telco players are beginning to capitalise on the wave of private 5G, telecoms providers seeking to expand their customer base will need precision. The amount of growth will come down to the quality of location data.
Navigate deployment challenges
Private 5G deployments come with unique challenges. Unlike traditional mobile networks, each customer has specific needs, such as reliable indoor coverage for a hospital or secure connectivity across a university campus.
Identifying viable deployment sites requires an understanding of criteria such as terrain conditions, building configurations, and access restrictions. Traditional approaches to site selection often relied on basic mapping and site visits, leaving operators to make decisions with incomplete information.
Without comprehensive location data, providers risk costly deployment mistakes, suboptimal network performance, and delayed implementation timelines. These challenges not only impact profit but can damage relationships with customers who expect seamless, professional service delivery. In a market where reliability is paramount, these risks can significantly hinder customer-base growth.
Transform strategy with location data
Ordnance Survey's (OS’s) location data gives telecoms providers the clarity they need to plan with confidence, transforming private 5G planning from guesswork into strategic advantage.
With access to detailed information about over 40 million addresses and 500 million geographic features across Great Britain, including precise land parcels, comprehensive road networks, and detailed building data, OS data enables telecoms operators to make informed decisions at every stage of the deployment process.
Operators can quickly identify suitable deployment locations, understand potential obstacles, and develop implementation strategies tailored to specific site conditions. Rather than discovering access issues or terrain challenges during site visits, operators can assess this remotely, significantly reducing deployment timeframes and associated costs.
Because OS data is regularly updated, operators can base their planning decisions on current, reliable information – particularly crucial in the private 5G market of dynamic environments and evolving infrastructure requirements.
Unlock new growth opportunities with OS data
OS location data can transform telecoms providers’ approach to private 5G deployment, resulting in faster, more accurate network planning that directly supports customer acquisition and retention goals. It can also enable them to expand into new sectors with confidence. Healthcare providers, educational institutions, manufacturing facilities, and logistics operations all represent significant growth opportunities for private 5G services.
With comprehensive location data, operators can identify and approach potential customers with tailored plans and proposals for each sector’s specific connectivity challenges, showing they understand what matters most.
The strategic advantage extends beyond initial deployment. OS data enables ongoing network optimisation, helping operators deliver consistent performance that supports long-term customer relationships and encourages expansion of existing private network deployments.
Competitive advantage into the future
In a competitive private 5G market, location data is a powerful differentiator. Operators who can demonstrate high-quality planning capabilities, reduced deployment risks, and faster implementation timelines will secure more customers and keep their customer base happy.
OS-powered insights enable telecoms providers to make data-driven decisions at every stage, from initial customer prospecting through network design to ongoing optimisation. This approach not only supports immediate business objectives but creates a foundation for sustainable growth in the expanding private 5G market.
For telecoms operators serious about growing their customer base through private 5G networks, accurate location data isn't just helpful, it's essential.
