Ericsson: "Global 5G Subscribers to Surpass 580 Million This Year... Faster Than LTE"

Ericsson LG Announces 'Ericsson Mobility Report'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] It is projected that the number of 5G subscribers worldwide will reach 580 million by the end of this year and 3.5 billion by 2026.

Global telecommunications equipment company Ericsson LG announced its first 'Ericsson Mobility Report' of the year on the 20th, analyzing that 5G networks are spreading faster than previous generations of mobile communications.

Ericsson stated that despite ongoing uncertainties due to COVID-19, more than 160 telecom operators have started commercial 5G services, and the number of subscriptions through 5G devices increased by 70 million in the first quarter, reaching approximately 290 million. Riding this growth trend, it is expected that the number of 5G subscribers will reach 580 million by the end of this year.

In particular, the speed of 5G subscription is expected to reach 1 billion two years earlier than 4G LTE, which was launched in 2009. The rapid adoption of 5G in China and the early release of reasonably priced 5G devices were cited as the reasons behind this expansion. To date, more than 300 5G smartphone models have already been announced or commercially released.

Park Byung-sung, Senior Consultant at Ericsson LG, who presented the report, explained, “Devices are a crucial factor for the confidence in mobile communications, and the key point is which features they support.” He added, “The supply of 5G devices is estimated to reach 500 million units this year, and 30-45% of all devices supplied to the mobile communications market will support 5G.” Furthermore, he noted, “Among the existing 4G equipment, those that support 5G can be upgraded to 5G through software updates, which is another reason why 5G expansion is accelerating.”

Regionally, Northeast Asia, including Korea, shows the highest 5G penetration rate, followed by North America, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Western Europe. Northeast Asia is expected to hold the largest share with 1.4 billion 5G subscriptions, accounting for 65% of the total by 2026. Additionally, North America, where 5G commercialization is progressing rapidly, is expected to exceed 360 million subscriptions, representing 84% of total mobile subscriptions.

This 5G momentum is evaluated to continue as a key element in economic recovery after COVID-19, with the role of connectivity being strengthened. Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Ericsson’s Network Business and Senior Vice President, said, “By accelerating 5G launches and coverage expansion in pioneering markets such as China, the United States, and Korea, we are already stepping into the next phase of 5G. Now is the time to realize the potential of 5G as use cases become more concrete, and businesses and society are preparing for a post-pandemic world where 5G-based digitalization plays a vital role.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.