The Ericsson report also states that there are more than 1.7 billion 5G subscriptions globally
According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, there will be nearly 5.6 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2029. Further, the report indicates that, as 5G penetration grows, Ericsson also see increasing opportunities for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
Currently, stated the report, there are more than 1.7 billion 5G subscriptions globally, with roughly 160 million added in the first three months of 2024. As many as 600 million new subscriptions are expected in all of 2024. Regionally, North America is predicted to have the highest penetration by the end of 2029, with 90% (or 430 million) of subscriptions expected to be 5G.
When it comes to FWA, the prevalence of this service as a 5G use case is currently second only to enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB). In fact, 241 of the 310 communication service providers (CSPs) surveyed offered this service as of April 2024. Of these, 128 — or about 53% — included a 5G FWA offering, reflecting 29% growth compared to last year.
“The number of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service providers offering speed-based tariff plans has risen to 40% compared to 27% a year ago, highlighting the momentum in the market,” stated Ericsson. In the U.S., specifically, around 9 million business and residential locations were connected using 5G FWA in Q1 2024.
Another finding worth noting in the report is progress around 5G Standalone (SA). According to Ericsson, of the 300 CSPs around the world that now offer 5G services, about 50 have launched 5G SA.
