More than half a billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2021

Ericsson projects that fifth generation (5G) mobile subscriptions will exceed 580 million by the end of 2021, driven by an estimated one million new 5G mobile subscriptions every day.

The 20th edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, forecasts about 3.5 billion 5G subscriptions and 60 per cent 5G population coverage by the end of 2026, said a news release.

However, the pace of adoption varies widely by region, the report says.

Europe is off to a slower start and has continued to fall far behind China, the US, South 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 long-term evaluation timeline for the same milestone.

China’s earlier commitment to 5G and the availability as well as increasing affordability of commercial 5G devices are considered as the key factors behind this.

More than 300 5G smartphone models have already been announced or launched commercially.

Projecting an enhanced connectivity during the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, commercial expansion of 5G is expected to continue in coming years, the report says.

Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice-president and head of networks, Ericsson, says, “We are in the next phase of 5G, with accelerating rollouts and coverage expansion in pioneer markets. Businesses and societies are also preparing for a post-pandemic world, with 5G-powered digitalisation playing a critical role.”

With an estimated 1.4 billion 5G subscriptions, North East Asia is expected to account for the largest share of 5G subscriptions by 2026 while North American and GCC markets are expected to account for the highest 5G subscription penetration, with 5G mobile subscriptions comprising 84 per cent and 73 per cent of all regional mobile subscriptions respectively.

In the South East Asia and Oceania regions, 5G subscriptions are expected to grow over the next few years with a forecast total of about 400 million by 2026. The regions will also see data traffic per smartphone growing at the fastest rate globally, reaching 39gigabite per month by 2026.

Ericsson Bangladesh head Abdus Salam says, “5G can address the rapid data growth and reduce cost per GB, which can further stimulate the digital economy in Bangladesh.”

Ericsson is one of the leading providers of information and communication technology in the world.