5G mobile subscriptions to Reach 1.5 billion in 2023

Stockholm, Sweden, June 21, 2023--During the first quarter of 2023, total 5G subscriptions reached 1.1 billion, adding 125 million and projected to reach 1.5 by the end of 2023 according to  the latest Ericsson Mobility Report.

Service providers continue to deploy  5G despite a weaker global economy  and geopolitical uncertainties. Around  the world, about 240 service providers  have now launched commercial 5G services, and around 35 have deployed  or launched 5G standalone (SA).1  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.

Strong 5G subscription growth  in North America

The uptake of 5G subscriptions2 in  North America has been stronger than  expected, and at the end of 2022 the  region had the highest 5G subscription Subscriptions for 4G continue to increase, growing by 59 million during Q1 2023 to 5.2 billion. 4G subscriptions are projected  to start declining from this year to around 3.8 billion by the end of 2028 as subscribers migrate to 5G. During the quarter, 3G subscriptions declined by 85 million, while GSM/EDGE-only  subscriptions dropped by 59 million and other technologies3 decreased by  about 4 million.

China, Bangladesh and Nigeria  had the greatest net additions of subscriptions during the quarter,  with 4 million added in each country. penetration at 41 percent. In North East Asia the penetration was 30 percent, followed by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at 18 percent and Western Europe at  13 percent. In 2028, it is projected that North America will have the highest  5G penetration at 91 percent, followed  by Western Europe at 88 percent.

The global 5G subscription forecast  has been adjusted to take into account delayed spectrum auctions in several countries and continued difficult macroeconomic conditions. 5G subscriptions are now forecast to reach 4.6 billion globally by the end of 2028, making up more than 50 percent of all mobile subscriptions. 5G will become the dominant mobile access technology by subscriptions in 2028.

To download the full report, go to: https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report/reports/june-2023