The number of 5G connections in India touched almost 10 million by the end of last year and 5G mobile subscriptions are estimated to account for about 57 per cent of mobile subscriptions in the country by the end of 2028, making it the fastest-growing 5G region globally, a new report by Ericsson said on Wednesday.
5G subscriptions are expected to reach 700 million in India and are estimated to account for 57 per cent of mobile subscriptions in the region by the end of 2028. Communications service providers globally are continuing to invest in 5G amid geopolitical challenges and a macro-economic slowdown in some markets.
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5G subscriptions are rising in every region globally and are forecast to reach 1.5 billion by the end of 2023. Global mobile network data traffic continues to grow with the monthly global average usage per smartphone expected to exceed 20 GB by the end of 2023. Also, 4G subscriptions are expected to decline from 820 million in 2022 to 500 million by 2028.
According to June 2023 edition of the "Ericsson Mobility Report", following the launch of 5G services in October 2022, a majority of the 5G Indian market is witnessing huge network deployments under its Digital India initiative.
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Average data traffic per smartphone is projected to grow from 26 GB per month in 2022 to around 62 GB per month in 2028.
The report also reveals that the uptake of 5G subscriptions in North America that has been stronger than expected in previous forecasts. By the end of 2022, the region had the highest 5G global subscription penetration at 41 per cent.
The report also highlighted continued revenue growth in leading 5G markets.
Globally, around 240 communications service providers (CSPs) have launched commercial 5G services and about 35 have deployed or launched 5G standalone (SA). The most common 5G services launched by service providers for consumers are enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), gaming and some AR/VR-based services, such as training and education.
The report also reveals that 5G continues to drive innovation in mobile service packaging. Among CSPs, it is increasingly common to offer bundles with various popular entertainment services included such as television, music streaming, or cloud gaming platforms. About 58 percent of 5G service providers currently do this in various forms.
“The global adoption of 5G technology has surpassed one billion subscriptions, bringing positive revenue growth for communications service providers in leading 5G markets. We see a strong link between the increase in 5G subscriptions and service revenue. Over the past two years, the introduction of 5G services in the top twenty markets has resulted in a seven percent revenue boost. This trend shows the growing value of 5G, benefiting users and service providers alike," Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, said in a statement.
More than 100 CSPs, comprising about 40 per cent of FWA service providers, currently offer FWA over 5G.