According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, the number of 5G subscribers is forecast to reach 5.6 billion by the end of 2029. Global 5G population coverage outside mainland China is expected to double from 40% at the end of 2023 to 80% by 2029.
According to network and telecommunications company Ericsson, around 300 communications service providers (CSPs) worldwide are offering 5G services, of which around 50 have launched 5G Standalone (5G SA).
“Service providers in the leading 5G markets of Australia and Singapore continue to focus on innovating on speed, coverage and differentiated services,” said Daniel Audet, head of Singapore, Philippines and Brunei, Ericsson. “Differentiated connectivity enables users, developers and businesses to access the optimal level of connectivity at the right time for their needs, ensuring seamless performance and resource efficiency in the network.”
5G growth is evident in all regions and is expected to account for approximately 60% of all mobile subscriptions by the end of 2029. In the first quarter of 2024, approximately 160 million 5G subscriptions were added worldwide, bringing the total to more than 1.7 billion. For the whole of 2024, approximately 600 million new subscriptions are expected.
Mobile network data traffic grew 25% year-on-year from March 2023 to March 2024, mainly due to subscriber migration to next-generation and data-intensive services such as video. In Southeast Asia, data traffic per smartphone user is expected to increase from 17GB per month in 2023 to 42GB per month by 2029.
Strong penetration of 5G subscriptions
Ericsson’s June 2024 Mobility Report provides insights into the future of the mobile industry, including regional breakdowns and customer case studies. The report predicts a compound annual growth rate of around 20% for mobile data traffic through 2029. By the end of 2023, 5G will handle around a quarter of all mobile network data, a figure that is expected to grow to around 75% by the end of 2029.
“The June 2024 Ericsson Mobility Report shows continued strong adoption of 5G subscriptions,” said Fredrik Jedling, EVP and head of Networks, Ericsson. “Enhanced mobile broadband and fixed wireless access are the leading use cases, with signs that 5G capabilities are influencing service providers’ fixed wireless access offerings. The report also highlights the need for increased deployment of 5G standalone technologies to realize 5G’s full potential.”
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) has become a key use case for 5G for CSPs worldwide, ranking second only to eMBB. Over the past year, the number of CSPs offering FWA services has grown significantly. Mid-band 5G population coverage outside mainland China has reached 35%, while North America and India are rapidly deploying with 85% and 90% coverage, respectively.
5G Devices
Statistics from leading service providers show that 97% of all user activity on 5G mid-band achieved a content delivery time of less than 1.5 seconds, compared to 67% on 5G low-band and 38% on 4G. The Southeast Asia and Oceania region, which includes the Philippines, is expected to reach approximately 560 million 5G subscribers by the end of the forecast period. By the end of 2023, the number of 5G subscribers in Southeast Asia reached 61 million.
The growth in 5G subscriber numbers in the region is driven by more affordable 5G devices, promotional plans, discounts, and large data bundles from service providers. Markets such as Singapore, Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia already have 5G subscriber numbers exceeding 20% of total subscribers. By the end of 2029, 5G mobile subscriber numbers are expected to account for 43% of total mobile subscribers in the region.
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