After revealing that the industry saw “unprecedented” growth and innovation in 2023, with 5G connections reaching a total of 1.76 billion throughout the year, research firm 5G Americas reported that this momentum will continue into the first quarter of 2024, with the 5G wireless communications industry seeing another strong quarter of expansion and technological advancements, driven by continued advancements in 5G technology.
The communications research firm, working with analyst Omdia, found that the global deployment of 5G connections will continue to grow steadily in the first quarter of 2024, adding 185 million new connections to reach nearly 2 billion. North America is seen leading the way in 5G deployment, with 5G connections in the region accounting for 32% of all wireless cellular connections. Notably, the region saw healthy growth in the first quarter, adding 22 million new connections to operator networks. North America’s 5G connections in the first quarter of 2024 totaled 220 million.
The study also found that there are currently 316 commercial 5G networks worldwide, a number expected to grow with continued heavy investment in 5G infrastructure around the world. Additionally, the number of deployed 5G networks is outpacing the pace of 4G LTE network deployments at the same time in the technology cycle. While there are currently 712 4G LTE deployments worldwide, the data shows that North America has 17 5G deployments, nearly matching the number of 4G LTE networks with 18.
Last quarter, Latin America also saw strong growth in 4G LTE and 5G connections, adding 8 million LTE connections for a total of 591 million across the region. Additionally, the region continues to drive the 5G revolution, adding 9 million 5G connections for a total of 48 million. 4G LTE subscriber numbers remain strong across the region, even as the availability of 5G handsets and spectrum continues to expand.
Commenting on the study, Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas, said: “The wireless technology sector continues to demonstrate its strength and importance with rapid adoption and strong growth globally, with North America at the forefront of 5G adoption.”
“North America is rapidly transitioning to essentially an LTE and 5G-only region, with most carriers already shutting down their legacy networks,” said Christine Poulin, principal analyst at Omdia. “Furthermore, 5G’s vast coverage and a range of devices at a variety of price points are stimulating 5G adoption.”
“5G continues to accelerate, with an increasing number of operators offering the technology and continued expansion of urban and suburban population coverage, while 4G continues to expand its presence in rural and remote areas, helping governments achieve their national connectivity goals,” said Jose Otero, vice president, Latin America and the Caribbean, 5G Americas.
Looking ahead, Omdia forecasts paint a picture for the telecom industry, predicting that global 5G connections will reach 7.7 billion by 2028, with North America boasting 700 million 5G connections by the same year. The Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is also expected to play a bigger role in driving 5G adoption and will continue to be a fundamental element of the digital revolution.
Currently, the number of IoT subscribers globally stands at 3.3 billion, while smartphone subscribers stand at 6.7 billion. Forecasts suggest that the number of IoT subscribers will reach 5 billion by 2028, while smartphone subscribers will soar to 8 billion, highlighting the evolution of connectivity and the interconnectedness of the digital world, the study said.
