Ericsson: Despite Pandemic, Global 5G Subscriptions Are Rising
According to a report recently released by telecommunications company Ericsson, there will be 190 million 5G subscriptions by the end of 2020. This forecast comes from the June 2020 Ericsson Mobility Report, which forecasts the next five to six years of mobility and 5G. The report analyzes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mobility and 5G deployments, and how despite everything happening in the world, 5G subscriptions are predicted to be on the rise.
Ericsson noted that despite the global pandemic that has changed how many businesses are deploying new technologies, 5G service providers have not stopped initializing and activating their 5G deployments. That has led to customers adopting 5G at a sustainable rate across the globe, even if some regions have seen a decrease in projected subscriptions. Ericsson predicts that there will be 190 million 5G subscriptions by the end of 2020, and 2.8 billion subscriptions by 2025.
The company also analyzed how mobile data traffic will change as 5G becomes more popular. Ericsson believes that by 2025, 5G networks will carry 45 percent of the world’s mobile data traffic. Especially in North America, where mobile traffic is predicted to increase the most, 5G providers will need to ensure that they are properly equipped to deal with rising customer mobile data requirements.
In the company’s press release, Ericsson’s Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Fredrik Jejdling says: “The spread of COVID-19 has prompted people all over the world to change their daily lives and, in many cases, work or study from home. This has led to a rapid shift of network traffic from business to residential areas. The latest Ericsson Mobility Report shows that mobile and fixed networks are increasingly playing an even bigger part of critical national infrastructure.”
Read the June 2020 Ericsson Mobility Report here.
