5G roaming is transforming how mobile users and enterprises stay connected globally, delivering faster speeds, lower latency, and seamless service, even outside a home network. In this blog, readers will learn how 5G roaming works, why it’s essential for operators, and how solutions like Syniverse simplify secure international connectivity.
The rise of 5G roaming technology is reshaping global mobile connectivity. It delivers faster speeds, lower latency, improved device connectivity and enhanced security, regardless of where users travel.
With 5G roaming solutions, subscribers can stay connected on high-speed 5G networks, even outside their home country. This ensures consistent performance, seamless experiences, and increased satisfaction for both consumers and enterprises.
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What Is 5G Roaming?
When traveling, 5G roaming allows users to connect to a 5G network, even if it’s not their home network. 5G international roaming requires an interface between the visiting network and the home network, where the user’s service originates.
The user’s device establishes communication with the visiting network, which then establishes communication with the home network. They can enjoy their home network’s data, voice, and other services. This means subscribers can enjoy the benefits of high-speed data transfer rates and low latency.
The process for roaming with 5G requires an interface between the visiting and home networks, backed by roaming agreements and compatible technologies.
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has guidelines to which mobile network operators (MNOs) worldwide must adhere. For successful GSMA 5G roaming,
5G roaming architecture requires:
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Established roaming agreements
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Compatibility between the home and visited networks
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Support for 5G non-standalone (NSA) or standalone (SA) technology
5G roaming is not just beneficial, it’s essential for network operators. It significantly improves their service offering, drives increased revenues, and adds immense value to their customers.
Deliver Secure Seamless 5G International Roaming Connectivity
Networks must be technically compatible to achieve a smooth 5G international roaming experience.
Developing a compliant 5G roaming architecture is complex and resource-heavy, often requiring IREG and TADIG testing. Syniverse’s Professional Services for Mobility simplifies this by conducting offsite testing, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure.
With the enhanced speeds and capacity of 5G networks, prioritizing security measures becomes even more imperative. The GSMA strongly recommends utilizing the IPX network for operators to ensure safe and dependable interconnectivity during 5G roaming.
Security edge protection proxy (SEPP) is a feature in 5G that provides secure communication between home and visited networks. SEPP safeguards against threats such as fraud, privacy leaks, spoofing, and replay attacks in inter-operator 5G signaling.
Syniverse’s hosted SEPP solution is built into its 5G roaming solution, offering:
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End-to-end message integrity
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Confidentiality
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Topology hiding
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Spoofing protection
Operators must effectively handle the complexities of international roaming billing and traffic flow management between networks. To streamline these processes, they may need to leverage sophisticated software systems for transparent and secure tracking.
Syniverse supports Billing and Charging Evolution (BCE) functions. By integrating these functions, operators can offer specific services to support their commercial models.
Enable 5G Roaming with Existing 4G Infrastructure
You don’t need a fully deployed 5G SA core to offer 5G roaming today.
Operators can gain a significant competitive edge by providing 5G roaming services, especially during the initial phase of 5G implementation.
They can use an NSA 5G roaming architecture, where the 4G LTE core handles signaling and control, while the 5G network delivers higher data speeds and capacity.
This hybrid model helps MNOs support 5G roaming early, retaining customers and increasing ARPU during network transitions.
Prepare 5G Infrastructure to Meet Increased Global Demand for IoT Technologies
Due to the disruption of the pandemic, enterprises must undergo significant digital transformation, taking advantage of internet of things (IoT) technologies.
The increased data demands from enterprises mean that not having 5G roaming leaves money on the table. With increased demand and usage, network operators must be able to handle surges without downtime or disruption in service.
5G roaming supports IoT use cases that require low latency and high throughput, including:
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Real-time asset tracking
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Smart transportation
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Industrial automation
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Connected health devices
With network slicing for 5G SA roaming, you can divide a single physical network into multiple virtual networks. Each will have its own resources, policies, and service levels. This allows for effective management and customization of the networks to meet various enterprise needs. A network slice can be allocated for IoT devices that demand low latency, like autonomous vehicles and industrial robots.
A 5G roaming solution makes global deployment of IoT applications possible. With network slicing in 5G SA roaming, operators can reserve dedicated virtual networks for specific IoT use cases, such as:
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Low-latency environments (e.g., robotics)
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Massive machine-type communication (e.g., agriculture sensors)
This segmentation ensures tailored performance, control, and monetization opportunities.
Choose the Best 5G Roaming Solution
With Syniverse, operators can introduce 5G roaming services with the largest direct global reach of any IPX provider. Get a competitive edge with support for all IP-based services, such as:
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5G NSA
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5G SA
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RCS
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LTE
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VoLTE
Network operators can effortlessly clear, reconcile, settle, and audit wholesale 5G roaming traffic with our Universal Commerce for BCE. It actively manages the roaming experience of 5G subscribers in real time and monitors customer service quality.
Find 5G Roaming Solutions from Syniverse!
