The report stated that the total number of 5G connections at the end of this year will reach nearly 2 billion
The number of 5G subscribers at a global level is expected to reach 6.8 billion by the end of 2027, up from current 1.2 billion 5G connections, 5G Americas reported, citing data from Omdia.
According to the report, the total number of 5G connections at the end of this year is expected to reach nearly 2 billion.
Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas, said: “With North American 5G networks online, we’re experiencing a strong subscription cycle for 5G in the U.S. and Canada. At the same time, other 5G markets are emerging, creating the potential for billions of new 5G connections. Key ecosystem players will have a huge role in providing new technical features and capabilities to fulfill the promise of 5G globally.”
According to the latest data from Omdia, a total of 157 million new global 5G connections were added between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023. The report highlighted that the global 5G market will experience an average annual growth of nearly one billion new connections during the 2023-2027 period.
The report noted that North America had a total of 133 million 5G connections and 503 million LTE connections as of the end of the first quarter of the year. The 5G penetration rate in the North American market is steadily climbing and currently stands at nearly 36%, as 14 million new 5G connections came online during the first quarter of 2023.
“Initial 5G deployments have laid a strong foundation and now operators are focused on Standalone 5G and beyond to advance 5G and bring about further innovations. By 2025, 5G is expected to be the dominant mobile technology in North America. And, in the four years from the end of 2023 to the end of 2027, Omdia forecasts 5G in North America will grow 184% to reach 601 million subscriptions,” said Kristin Paulin, principal analyst at Omdia.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, 4G LTE networks continue to show robust growth in Q1 2023, as the region ended March with 553 million 4G LTE connections, reflecting a quarterly growth of 2.1%
The region is forecast to reach 407 million connections in the 5G segment by the end of 2027, up from 62 million at end-2023.
“5G and LTE mobile wireless continue to progress and be the foundation for broadband connectivity in the region. Recent spectrum assignment processes in Guatemala, Peru, and Uruguay showcase the region’s government interest in expanding LTE and working towards enabling 5G growth in their markets. As more assignment processes occur and 5G handsets become accessible for the mass market, 5G will become a reality for many regional subscribers,” said Jose Otero, VP of the Caribbean and Latin America for 5G Americas.
Overall, the number of 5G commercial networks globally has reached 267, according to data from 5G Americas. That figure is expected to reach 386 by the end of 2023 and 413 by the end of 2025.
A recent report by ABI Research had forecasted that the number of 5G connections globally would reach 3.1 billion in 2027, up from 934 billion subscriptions in 2022. The report stated that the global 5G market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27% during the 2022-2027 period.