Global 5G connections surge to 1.76 billion, up 66% year-over-year, led by North America

• 5G global connections to reach 1.76 billion by the end of 2023, an additional 700 million; connections expected to grow 66% in 2023, reaching 7.9 billion by 2028
• North America: 5G will account for 29% of all wireless cellular connections, growing 64% year-over-year, adding 77 million new connections in 2023.

Bellevue, Washington – March 28, 2024 – The wireless communications industry has experienced a year of unprecedented growth and innovation, fueled by the unstoppable momentum of 5G technology. According to data from 5G Americas and Omdia, the voice of 5G and beyond in the Americas, adoption of 5G connections is expected to accelerate in 2023, increasing by 700 million connections worldwide to reach 1.76 billion connections.

“The wireless communications industry is at the beginning of a new era, driven by innovation, collaboration and a shared vision for a connected future,” said Chris Pearson, president, 5G Americas. “Fixed wireless access continues to drive consumer broadband demand, and new technology milestones are advancing unparalleled connected experiences around the world.”

North America will emerge as a pioneer in 5G adoption, with connections in the region accounting for 29% of North America’s total connections by the end of 2023. Notably, the region will see an astounding 64% growth in 5G connections year-over-year, adding 77 million new connections to the network, bringing the total number of 5G connections in North America to 197 million by the end of 2023.

Latin America has seen significant progress in both 4G LTE and 5G connections, with LTE connections expected to reach 582 million by the end of 2023, adding 40 million new connections year-over-year. Additionally, the region has embraced the 5G revolution, with 39 million 5G connections by the end of the year, setting the stage for further expansion in the coming years.

“4G LTE remains the most powerful technology in the region,” said José Otero, vice president of Latin America and the Caribbean for 5G Americas, “but a variety of factors, including mass market availability of 5G devices and the completion of spectrum auctions, will lead to greater 5G coverage and subscriber growth over the coming year.”

Looking ahead, Omdia forecasts paint a picture of where the communications industry is expected to be this decade: Global 5G connections are expected to surge to 7.9 billion by 2028, with North America expected to hit 700 million 5G connections by the same year.

“The forecast shows that 5G will reach the global milestone of accounting for more than half of all connections by 2028, with North America taking the lead as an early leader, with 5G accounting for more than 80% of connections,” said Christine Poulin, principal analyst at Omdia.

Moreover, 5G data traffic is expected to reach a staggering 2.6 billion TB (or 2,600 EB) by 2028, accounting for 76% of all technology data traffic, with all technology data traffic reaching 3.4 billion TB (or 3,400 EB), reflecting the exponential growth trajectory of 5G connections.

While 5G technology continues to garner attention, the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem remains a key component of the digital revolution. Currently, there are 3.1 billion global IoT subscriptions and 6.6 billion smartphone subscriptions. Forecasts suggest that IoT subscriptions will reach 4.5 billion and smartphone subscriptions will soar to 7.4 billion by 2026, highlighting the evolution of connectivity and the interconnectedness of our digital world.

Globally, the number of 5G network deployments is greater than that of 4G LTE, and in North America, it is almost equal to the number of 4G LTE network deployments. Currently, there are 314 commercial 5G networks worldwide, and this number is expected to grow to 450 by 2025, reflecting significant investment in 5G infrastructure around the world.

As of March 18, 2024, the number of 5G and 4G LTE networks deployed is as follows:

5G:

Worldwide: 314

North America: 17

Latin America and the Caribbean: 39

4G LTE:

Worldwide: 714

North America: 18

Latin America and the Caribbean: 135

For more information, statistical charts and listings 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).