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To better capture user reality, OpenSignal measures 5G metrics beyond traditional coverage statistics
Despite widespread 5G branding and growing industry momentum toward 5G-Advanced and even 6G, many mobile users still are not experiencing true next-generation performance — and the familiar 5G icon on a smartphone can be misleading. On the latest episode of Unmuted, Sylwia Kechiche of OpenSignal discussed the growing gap between perceived and actual mobile performance, arguing that visibility of a 5G signal often does not translate into meaningful user experience.
“When you see the 5G icon on your phone, it actually doesn’t mean you have 5G service. That means you’re within the reach of a 5G network that can be really far away,” she said. Kechiche described her own experience discovering that although her device displayed a 5G indicator, it was actually connected to a 4G site with limited spectrum capacity — highlighting how marketing claims and real-world performance frequently diverge.
To better capture user reality, OpenSignal measures metrics beyond traditional coverage statistics. Availability alone, she explained, only indicates proximity to signal coverage. More meaningful indicators include “time on 5G,” which measures how often users are actively connected to the technology during everyday usage.
The disconnect is partly rooted in the industry’s continued reliance on non-standalone (NSA) deployments. Although 5G was designed to support enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low latency services and massive IoT connectivity, many operators have yet to complete the transition to standalone architectures.
“We’re more than halfway [through the] 5G deployment cycle… Still, [a] majority of deployments are using NSA. So they’re not the so-called true 5G,” Kechiche said.
Standalone deployments do deliver measurable improvements. OpenSignal data shows users experience “20 to 30% lower latency on standalone versus non-standalone,” improving gaming performance and connection consistency. However, high costs and uncertain return on investment continue to slow operator adoption.
One commercial success story has emerged in fixed wireless access, which Kechiche called a “poster child” use case demonstrating how carriers can monetize 5G today.
Beyond performance metrics, OpenSignal also warns of risks tied to legacy network shutdowns. As operators retire 2G and 3G infrastructure, vulnerable users and critical services may lose connectivity if migration plans are poorly executed. “We have to figure out how we’re going to move people away from them and ensure they’re still connected,” she said, noting that emergency systems, IoT devices, and older consumers often still depend on legacy networks.
Looking ahead, Kechiche emphasized that while industry attention is shifting toward AI-driven networks and future generations of wireless technology, the immediate challenge remains delivering consistent, reliable experiences to users today. “We forget about the day-to-day reality of lived experience, what people experience,” she said. “In due time, consumers will see the benefits, not just yet.”
