Ericsson predicts that 5G mobile subscriptions will exceed 580 million by the end of 2021, led by one million new 5G mobile subscriptions every day.
According to Ericsson Mobility Report, this forecast reinforces the expectation that 5G will become the fastest adopted mobile generation of all time, with 3.5 billion 5G subscriptions and 60% 5G population coverage forecast by the end of 2026.
However, depending on region, the pace of adoption varies. Europe had a delayed beginning and has fallen behind China, the U.S., Korea, Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets in the pace of 5G deployments.
5G is expected to surpass a billion subscriptions two years ahead of the 4G LTE timeline for the same milestone. This is contributed by China’s earlier commitment to 5G, and the earlier availability and increasing affordability of commercial 5G devices.
The enhanced role of connectivity as a key component of post-pandemic recovery is also expected to spur the continued adoption of commercial 5G over the coming years.
North East Asia to contribute the largest share
North East Asia is predicted to contribute to the largest share of 5G subscriptions by 2026 with an estimated 1.4 billion 5G subscriptions. Whereas North American and GCC markets are expected to account for the highest 5G subscription penetration, with 5G mobile subscriptions comprising 84% and 73% of all regional mobile subscriptions, respectively.
Currently, mobile subscriptions in South East Asia and Oceania have exceeded 1.1 billion – with 5G subscriptions being just below the 2 million mark. 5G subscriptions are expected to grow strongly over the next few years with a forecast total of about 400 million by 2026.
“5G will play a critical role in digital transformation for enterprises including SMEs as well as MNCs, while enabling a transformative user experience for consumers,” said Martin Wiktorin, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines.
“As one of the first few markets in the world to have a 5G SA network, Singapore will benefit from the latest 5G technologies that will enable a variety of advanced use cases. This will range from immersive entertainment experiences, smart city applications, to 5G for business solutions empowering higher efficiency and productivity.”
