These are the core statements of the Ericsson Mobility Report, which was published this week in Stockholm. The number of 5G mobile phone contracts in Western Europe will almost double from 32 million at the end of last year to 63 million this year. For the coming year, the experts from Sweden are forecasting even faster growth: by the end of 2023, they expect almost 150 million 5G customers in Western Europe.
5G offers significantly higher data transmission rates than the previous UMTS (3G) and LTE (4G) standards. In addition, the delay time (latency) is lower, so that 5G can also be used for real-time applications such as controlling a machine remotely or telemedicine applications. According to experts, 5G is also better than 3G or 4G for bringing masses online, such as visitors in a large football stadium.
According to the study, by the end of 2022, over one billion 5G mobile phone subscriptions will be completed worldwide. With the high growth rates in Western Europe, the international ranking is also shifting. So far, the North America region has been ahead. More than a third (35 percent) of all mobile phone customers there already have a 5G-compatible mobile phone contract. This is followed by Northeast Asia (34) and the Gulf Cooperation Council region (20). Western Europe only comes in at eleven percent.
By the end of 2028, Ericsson experts predict that North America (91 percent) and Western Europe (88 percent) will be neck and neck. This is followed by the Gulf States (86 percent) and Northeast Asia (74 percent). The number of 5G contracts worldwide will increase to five billion by the end of 2028.
What is driving the 5G market
According to the study, demand is not only driven by 5G smartphones, but also by the broadband connection of private households and offices using mobile communications technology – i.e. as an alternative to the fixed network connection. Experts speak of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). FWA is one of the highlighted trends. “The use of technology is growing faster than expected and is expected to connect more than 300 million households worldwide by 2028.” 5G is used as the transmission technology for 80 percent of these connections. Around 100 million users in households or offices with FWA technology are currently online.
Source: Nachrichten
