Ericsson: The number of 5G subscribers in the world will reach 1 billion by the end of 2022
Ericsson has introduced a new forecast for the deployment of fifth-generation wireless networks. According to analysts, by the end of this year, the number of subscribers using 5G will exceed 1 billion people worldwide. The company noted that an important moment has come in the cellular market – 4G and LTE networks will reach their peak this year, after which they will give way to more advanced technology that will be used by robots, drones and advanced gadgets.
According to Reuters, the weak global economy and the uncertainty caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have forced Ericsson to revise its forecast and lower its estimate of 5G subscriber coverage by about 100 million people. However, 5G networks continue to grow in number of users. 4G networks reached an audience of 1 billion subscribers 10 years after the first launch, while 5G will achieve the same result two years earlier. The main drivers of progress in this area are companies from the United States and China, as well as the population of these countries, which is actively switching to smartphones with support for the new standard of communication.
“China added about 270 million users to 5G networks in 2021, compared to North America, which added 65 million people,” – said Ericsson forecast author Peter Jonsson. He also said that democratization and technological progress have played an important role in the speed of proliferation – the cost of 5G smartphones has dropped to $120 and many relevant towers allow operators to connect more people every month.
In general, Ericsson estimates that by 2026 the number of 5G users will reach 60% of the world’s population or about 3.5 billion people. The company claims that after several years of extensive testing, including numerous concept checks and technical testing, the technology is ready for full-scale deployment, although it faces some challenges in different regions. As a rule, the main obstacle for 5G networks is government regulators, who are slowly certifying new frequency bands.
In addition to high-quality customer service, 5G networks promise many new scenarios for wireless communication. According to leading IT giants, including Qualcomm, Nokia, and many others, next-generation wireless networks will accelerate the introduction of robots in businesses, the development of completely unmanned vehicles and the spread of gadgets that work in augmented reality. In addition, the head of Qualcomm believes that thanks to 5G powerful smartphones will be unnecessary: all users will need is a high-quality display, large battery and cellular module, as the calculations will be processed in the cloud.
