Fifth-Generation (5G) cellular networks target substantial gains over 4G networks to meet the increasing data rate, capacity and low-latency demands of emerging mobile applications. This research investigates the potential of largescale antenna system architectures named Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) to enhance the spectral efficiency and reliability of 5G new radio (NR) wireless access. Comprehensive system-level modeling and simulations quantify the throughput, capacity and transmit power savings realizable under various realistic propagation environments. Results demonstrate significant performance gains over contemporary network configurations, supporting Massive MIMO as a key enabler on the road to 5G.