- How 5G and 5G SA differ
- How to read the ministry's 5G rollout figures
- What the draft MVNO guideline change would do
- What to check when choosing a phone and plan
The short answer
A "5G" icon on your phone does not tell you which kind of 5G you are using. Figures published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on 30 October show 5G population coverage reached 98.6% nationwide at the end of March 2026, while operators report that standalone 5G (SA) is still spreading outward from hubs such as major stations and shopping areas.
On 27 October the ministry also published a draft revision of its guidelines that would make it easier for budget SIM providers (MVNOs) to offer SA services over the big carriers' 5G networks, with comments invited from 28 October to 26 November. Nothing changes for users straight away, and it is no reason to rush to switch. The practical takeaway is to look one step further into what "5G-ready" means when choosing a phone or plan.
How 5G and SA differ
There are two ways of running 5G: one that combines 5G radio with 4G equipment at the core (NSA), and one that runs on a dedicated 5G core network (SA). In operator reports included in the ministry's materials, SA is described as making "network slicing", which separates service quality by use, available. To use SA you need to be in an SA area, and your phone and plan also need to support it.
The ministry's figures
| Item | End of March 2026 | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 5G population coverage | 98.6% nationwide | 99% nationwide and in every prefecture by March 2031 |
| Sub-6 deployment rate | 80.3% | 90% by March 2028, 95% by March 2031 |
| Millimetre-wave base stations | About 45,000 | 50,000 by March 2028, 70,000 by March 2031 |
The 98.6% figure overlays the coverage of all five carriers. It will not be the same for your own carrier, indoors, or for SA. The Sub-6 deployment rate is the share of 13,250 one-kilometre squares, chosen in order of population, that have Sub-6 base stations from more than one carrier. By prefecture it ranges from 100% to the 30s.
The materials also set a policy that new Sub-6 and millimetre-wave base stations should, in principle, all be able to support SA in future. One reporting operator says it is developing an SA core network, aims to start operating it around the end of December 2026, and expects to launch commercially after device testing and other steps.
What the draft guideline change would do
The main points of the draft are adding a "5GC interconnection function", which lets an MVNO deliver 5G SA services, to the functions carriers are encouraged to open up (while removing functions no longer expected to be requested), and clarifying how fixed assets are allocated when calculating the access charges MVNOs pay. Two methods for the function are set out for now: a "roaming" method, in which the MVNO provides its own SIMs and phone numbers, and a "proxy" method that relies more on the carrier's equipment and can be introduced more simply and cheaply. The ministry says it will revise the guidelines promptly after reviewing the comments.
Even after the revision, budget SIMs will not offer SA immediately. Whether and when to offer it is up to each provider, and nothing is known yet.
What to check when choosing
Checklist
- Whether your plan supports 5G, and whether it says SA is included
- Whether your phone supports SA (check the maker's or carrier's list of supported models)
- Why you want 5G at all: speed, coverage, or a particular feature
A phone is used for several years, so choosing an SA-capable model when you replace it makes sense if the price difference is small. The line itself can be reviewed when you actually need it. "5G-ready" can mean NSA only, so check the coverage and the eligible phones and plans for SA.
One thing to check today
Check your phone maker's and provider's guidance once to see whether your phone and current plan support 5G SA.