5G continues strong growth, driving demand for more wireless spectrum

• Global connections expected to reach 1.6 billion by Q3 2023, growing 71% annually to 7.9 billion by 2028
• North American 5G growth shows no signs of slowing down: 176 million total connections in Q3 2023, 47% penetration; 14% growth in last quarter, adding 22 million new connections

Bellevue, WA – December 18, 2023 – The global 5G landscape continues to make impressive progress in many major markets as 5G networks complete their fourth year of commercial operation. As of Q3 2023, the world has added 537 million 5G connections, bringing the global total to 1.6 billion, representing a 71 percent increase over the past year. This growth trajectory suggests an optimistic outlook for the future of 5G deployment, according to 5G America, His Voice of 5G and Beyond in the Americas, and Omdia data.

“The global 5G landscape is showing positive momentum as innovation and collaboration remain the mainstays of long-term progress,” said Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas. “Now that the World Radio Conference has concluded, it is important that international cooperation and efforts continue to ensure that spectrum and technology standards continue to drive this growth.”

Going forward, as 5G-Advanced network improvements are implemented and 6G efforts are completed, Omdia predicts that the global 5G connection base is likely to reach 1.8 billion by the end of 2023 and 7.9 billion by 2028. doing. Although this represents a significant expansion, it is important to note that this growth may not be linear. As different regions and segments continue to adopt the technology, factors such as infrastructure development, spectrum availability, device availability, and consumer demand will continue to influence the pace of adoption.

Overall, North America remains the leading region for 5G deployment, with 176 million connections as of Q3 2023. This means that 22 million new connections were added in the last quarter, representing a quarter-on-quarter increase of 14%. This corresponds to a market share of 26% and a penetration rate of 46%, highlighting the region’s strong commitment to advancing 5G technology. Within the region, some national carriers have also already deployed or are in the process of deploying 5G standalone networks.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 5G deployment is still in its early stages. However, there is encouraging progress being made in the region. In the third quarter of 2023, LTE connections increased by 7 million, bringing the total to 572 million. Although 4G continues to dominate, 5G connections are expected to increase fourfold in 2023, reaching 46 million. Looking further ahead, the number of 5G connections in the region is predicted to reach 492 million by 2028, highlighting the potential for significant growth.

“4G LTE and 5G continue to be key mobile communications technologies for Latin America,” said Jose Otero, Vice President, Caribbean and Latin America, 5G Americas. There is a strong chance for 5G success in this region. ”

Christine Poulin, Principal Analyst at Omdia, said: By addressing new opportunities through innovation and collaboration, the industry can ensure that 5G realizes its full potential and its transformative impact on the way we live. ”

The number of 5G networks currently being deployed globally is comparable to the number of 4G LTE deployments. There are currently 296 commercial 5G networks around the world, and this number is expected to increase to 438 by 2025, reflecting significant investments in 5G infrastructure around the world. 5G and 4G LTE network deployments as of December 14, 2023 are summarized below.

5G:

• Global: 296
• North America: 17
• Latin America and the Caribbean: 32

4G LTE:

• Global: 712
• North America: 18
• Latin America and the Caribbean: 133

For more information, statistical charts, and a list of LTE and 5G deployments by carrier and region, visit www.5GAmericas.org. Subscriber and forecast data is provided by Omdia, and deployment data is provided by 5G Americas and TeleGeography (GlobalComm).