Ericsson Mobility-Report November 2022
By the end of 2022, 5G subscriptions are expected to reach 1 billion.
Despite a weaker economy and geopolitical uncertainties, service providers continue to deploy 5G, with 228 having already launched commercial 5G services globally. Deployment of 5G standalone (SA) networks also continues, with around
35 service providers having deployed
or launched 5G SA in public networks.1 The most common 5G services launched by service providers for consumers are enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), gaming and some AR/VR-based services.
Strong 5G subscription growth
5G subscriptions2 grew by 110 million during the third quarter to around 870 million, and that number is expected to reach 1 billion
by the end of 2022. North America and North East Asia are expected to have the highest 5G subscription penetration by the end of 2022 at around 35 percent, followed by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at 20 percent and Western Europe at
11 percent. In 2028, it is projected that North America will have the highest 5G penetration at 91 percent, followed by Western Europe at 88 percent.
By the end of 2028, 5 billion 5G subscriptions are forecast globally, accounting for 55 percent of all mobile subscriptions. 5G subscription uptake is faster than that of 4G following its launch in 2009, with 5G expected to reach 1 billion subscriptions 2 years sooner than 4G. Key factors include the timely availability of
devices from several vendors, with prices falling faster than for 4G, and China’s large, early 5G deployments. 5G will become the dominant mobile access technology by subscriptions in 2027.
Subscriptions for 4G continue to increase, growing by 41 million during Q3 2022
to around 5 billion. 4G subscriptions are projected to peak at 5.2 billion by the end of 2022, then decline to around 3.6 billion by the end of 2028 as subscribers migrate to 5G.
During the quarter, 3G subscriptions declined by 41 million, while GSM/EDGE-only subscriptions dropped by 44 million and other technologies3 decreased by about 6 million.
During the quarter, China had the most net additions (+15 million), followed by Nigeria (+5 million) and Indonesia (+4 million).
Ericsson Mobility-Report November 2022
WeChat: GSA Express
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