According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, 5G subscriptions are projected to reach 5.6 billion by the end of 2029. Global 5G population coverage, excluding mainland China, is set to double from 40% at the end of 2023 to 80% by 2029.
According to Ericsson, a networking and telecommunications company, about 300 communications service providers (CSPs) globally offer 5G services, with approximately 50 of them having launched 5G Standalone (5G SA).
“Service providers in the advanced 5G markets of Australia and Singapore continue to focus on innovations in speed, coverage and differentiated services,” said Daniel Ode, head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei. “Differentiated connectivity will give users, developers and enterprises the optimal level of connectivity at the right time for their needs, ensuring seamless performance and resource efficiency in the network.”
The growth of 5G is evident across all regions and is anticipated to account for around 60% of all mobile subscriptions by the end of 2029. In the first quarter of 2024, around 160 million 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to over 1.7 billion. For the entire year of 2024, nearly 600 million new subscriptions are expected.
Mobile network data traffic experienced a 25% year-on-year increase from March 2023 to March 2024, driven primarily by subscriber migration to later generations and data-intensive services such as video. In Southeast Asia, data traffic per smartphone user is expected to rise from 17GB per month in 2023 to 42GB per month by 2029.
Strong uptake of 5G subscriptions
Ericsson’s June 2024 Mobility Report provides insights into the mobile industry’s future, including regional breakdowns and customer case studies. It forecasts a compound annual growth rate of about 20% for mobile data traffic through 2029. By the end of 2023, 5G handled about a quarter of all mobile network data, a figure expected to grow to approximately 75% by the end of 2029.
”The June 2024 Ericsson Mobility Report shows continued strong uptake of 5G subscriptions,” said Fredrik Jejdling, 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 technology to fully realize the potential of 5G.”
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) has become a prominent 5G use case for CSPs globally, ranking second only to eMBB. Over the past year, there has been a significant increase in the number of CSPs offering FWA services. In terms of mid-band 5G population coverage outside of mainland China, it has reached 35%, with North America and India achieving rapid deployments of 85% and 90% coverage, respectively.
5G devices
Statistics from a leading service provider reveal that 97% of all user activities on 5G mid-band achieved a time-to-content of less than 1.5 seconds, compared to 67% on 5G low-band and 38% on 4G. In the Southeast Asia and Oceania region, which includes the Philippines, 5G subscriptions are expected to reach around 560 million by the end of the forecast period. By the end of 2023, 5G subscriptions in Southeast Asia stood at 61 million.
The growth in the 5G subscriber base in this 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 have already seen 5G subscriptions exceed 20% of their total subscriber base. By the end of 2029, 5G mobile subscriptions are expected to represent 43% of all mobile subscriptions in the region.