The latest Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) report confirms what many in the industry already know: Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) continues to lead the way as the go-to spectrum for private wireless networks in the United States.
According to the GSA’s June, 2025 Private Mobile Networks report, CBRS had more new deployments than any other spectrum band used for local private networks. Among the nearly 400 customer deployments tracked using dedicated spectrum, CBRS leads in both total deployments and new growth. These market-share and growth figures reinforce CBRS’s reputation as a critical enabler for enterprise-grade wireless solutions that are both scalable and cost-effective.
The report goes beyond deployment counts to reveal deeper patterns that signal where the private wireless market is headed. It highlights several key trends shaping adoption, including the outsized role of U.S. enterprises, the dominance of manufacturing as a leading use case, and the continued reliance on LTE even as 5G gains traction. Together, these insights paint a picture of a rapidly maturing ecosystem—one where CBRS is playing a central role in unlocking real-world business outcomes.
The United States Now Leads the World—Outside of China—in Private Wireless Deployments
The United States now has 338 unique customer references (“customer reference” being a unique organization or government entity that has deployed a qualifying private 4G or 5G network, typically valued over $117,000), for private wireless deployments—more than triple the next closest country, Germany, and leading the world other than China that does not operate purely private format.
From Federated Wireless’s perspective as the leading operator of a commercial Spectrum Access System (SAS), this milestone underscores a significant shift: spectrum access is no longer the exclusive domain of large carriers. CBRS gives direct access to high-quality spectrum to enterprises of all sizes, empowering them to move quickly and maintain full control over their connectivity.
Manufacturing Leads the Way
The GSA report identifies manufacturing as the top sector for private wireless, adding eight new customer references in Q1 2025 alone. With a total of 352 deployments in the sector, manufacturers are turning to CBRS-powered private networks to enable everything from robotics and automation to predictive maintenance and AR-based training.
At Federated Wireless, we’re seeing this trend play out as many manufacturing sites begin with LTE deployments on CBRS to support wide-area sensor coverage and machine connectivity, then move to 5G for more sophisticated applications such as machine vision or autonomation. The flexibility of CBRS allows them to build incrementally while aligning network investments with business outcomes.
4G Still Dominates—But 5G Is Rising
Data outlined in the report indicates that while 5G adoption is growing, 4G remains the backbone of private wireless deployments globally. As of Q1 2025, 51.7% of customer deployments use LTE exclusively, compared to 27.3% on 5G and 19.5% using both. 4G’s proven reliability, device compatibility, and lower cost make it an ideal entry point for most enterprise use cases.
Our experience confirms this: CBRS-enabled 4G networks deliver robust, low-latency performance suitable for the majority of industrial and commercial needs today. And because CBRS supports both LTE and 5G, businesses can migrate seamlessly when their operational requirements evolve.
CBRS: A Foundation for Scalable, Secure Innovation
The uniquely flexible access structure of CBRS creates a powerful and flexible model for enterprise wireless. It supports everything from temporary pop-up networks to mission-critical infrastructure in regulated industries. For organizations that need performance and control without the overhead of a carrier-managed service, CBRS offers a clear alternative.
As the GSA report shows, countries with dedicated spectrum for private networks are seeing the fastest growth—and no country has embraced this model more effectively than the U.S. Thanks to CBRS, American enterprises can now treat spectrum like cloud infrastructure: on-demand, agile, and tailored to business outcomes.
The Road Ahead
The GSA’s data is clear: CBRS has evolved into a proven platform for private wireless success. From smart factories and logistics hubs to municipalities and education, CBRS is enabling next-generation wireless in ways that were previously out of reach for most organizations.
As the market matures, Federated Wireless remains committed to helping enterprises harness this momentum. We believe that CBRS will continue to be the spectrum of choice—not just because it’s accessible, but because it’s designed for the real-world needs of modern businesses.
To view and download the report visit: https://gsacom.com/paper/private-mobile-networks-june-2025/