Anticipated 5G Subscriptions to Surpass 1 Billion by 2023, According to Ericsson Forecast
In a recent Ericsson Mobility Report, the telecom giant forecasts a significant surge in global 5G subscriptions, with an estimated 2.9 billion subscriptions by the end of 2025. This projection underscores the rising adoption of 5G technologies worldwide, particularly in enterprise and advanced use cases such as private networks, Internet of Things (IoT)/automation, and edge cloud services.
By the end of 2023, 5G is expected to cover over 20% of the world’s population. The report also projects that VoLTE subscriptions will reach 5.5 billion by the same year, accounting for more than 80% of the combined LTE and 5G subscriptions. This shift towards 5G is evident in several markets, including the US, South Korea, Japan, and China, where early 5G deployments are foreseen.
In developed regions like North America, mobile data usage per smartphone is expected to exceed 7GB per month by the end of 2017. This trend is set to continue as mobile data traffic is expected to surpass 100 Exabytes per month in 2023.
The report also discusses the emergence of new use cases as network capabilities evolve. Smartwatches can now use VoLTE for voice calls, allowing users to make calls directly on their smartwatch without a nearby smartphone. Calls can even be transferred between a user's smartphone and watch.
In addition to subscriber growth and emerging use cases, the report focuses on complementary market research indicating the expansion of 5G standalone (SA) networks globally. By 2025, 70 mobile network operators are expected to deploy 5G SA in 39 countries, aiding growth of the mobile core market.
Regions like North America and Europe have largely completed their initial 5G mid-band rollouts, while India has achieved about 95% 5G coverage rapidly since deployment began just over a year ago. The report also includes regional reports for Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.
The report features three articles on rising industry trends: Shifting mobile data plans, Enhancing the event experience, and Millennials' expectations for 5G. The report also explores how millennials perceive their mobile experience, their hopes on 5G, and what their viewpoints imply for operators.
Niklas Heuveldop, chief strategy officer and head of Technology and Emerging Business at Ericsson, discusses trends in mobile subscription and data traffic growth, as well as the industry's efforts to address increasing demands on mobile networks globally. The report also suggests that UK 5G infrastructure is expected to overtake fibre broadband, though this fact was not explicitly stated in the paragraph.
In conclusion, the Ericsson Mobility Report paints a picture of a rapidly evolving mobile landscape, with 5G subscriptions, use cases, and network capabilities expanding at an unprecedented pace. The report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the direction of the mobile industry and the opportunities it presents for both consumers and operators.
- The expansion of 5G standalone (SA) networks globally, especially in regions like North America and Europe, presents opportunities for the finance sector, as the growth of the mobile core market indicates potential investments in technology and business.
- As smartwatches now support Voice over LTE (VoLTE) for voice calls, the evolving use cases of 5G technology in the business landscape, such as direct call capabilities on smartwatches, could stimulate technology advancements and drive the growth of related industries.
