5G connections to surpass one billion in 2022

5G connections will surpass one billion in 2022 and two billion by 2025, with 5G expected to account for over a fifth of total mobile connections by the end of 2025.

According to The Mobile Economy Report 2022 from the GSMA, more than two in five people globally will live within reach of a 5G network by the end of 2025.

There are nearly 200 live 5G networks in 70 countries, including 68 operators providing 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services and 23 delivering Stand Alone (SA) 5G services. All this supports consumer demand propelled by an ever-growing portfolio of 5G-enabled smartphones across various price points. This unprecedented growth represents the fastest generational roll-out for the mobile industry compared to 3G and 4G.

Early network capability initiatives are underway to support the increasing number of innovative consumer and enterprise use cases across the 5G Era. These include the 5G utilisation of multiple sub-3GHz spectrum bands, 5G mmWave, 5G Advanced, and Private Networks.

Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer at GSMA, said: “5G accounts for a much larger share of global mobile connections than 3G or 4G did at the same point in their lifecycles. Momentum has been boosted by factors including innovative plans, video streaming services, rising 5G handset sales, and network coverage expansions. In addition, the launch of 5G services in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa over the last year means that the technology is now available in every region of the world, so we are set to see more growth and more transformation for services.”

The GSMA has recently launched the GSMA 5G Transformation Hub, designed to promote adoption and communicate the value 5G delivers for operators, businesses, and government.

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