SA
Stand-Alone
A full, feature-complete version of 5G that does not require a corresponding 4G network to function. The alternative is NSA (Non-Stand-Alone), which did rely on a 4G network for many basic functions.
See: NSA
See: 5G NR
5G SA networks are more efficient and can offer lower latency (delay) compared to NSA networks.
The very first 5G networks were NSA, although most network operators have now upgraded to SA. NSA was a temporary bridge technology that allowed the earliest possible deployment of 5G data, even before the full 5G standard was finalized and ready to be deployed.
Last updated Apr 23, 2026 by Rich Brome
Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
