Key Highlights
- According to a GSMA Intelligence Report, 5G connections are set to double in the next two years, driven by the deployment of 5G infrastructure in more than 30 countries this year, with 15 of them being stand-alone.
- The enterprise market is expected to drive 5G revenue growth over the next decade, with edge computing and IoT deployments offering additional opportunities for use.
GSMA Intelligence Report was presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. The study found that consumer connections surpassed one billion at the end of 2022 and will increase to around 1.5 billion this year before reaching two billion by the end of 2025.
5G Adoption in Developing Regions of Africa Expected to Increase Significantly
The rollout and adoption of 5G connections are happening faster than previous networks. Developing African regions, such as Ethiopia and Ghana, are key markets for 5G adoption, with 5G uptake currently less than 1% in sub-Saharan Africa.
However, ongoing government efforts to increase connectivity to citizens in the region are expected to increase 5G adoption to more than 4% by 2025 and 16% by 2030.
Brazil and India are also important markets, with India expected to expand its network capabilities. GSMA predicts India will install four 5G connections by the end of 2025, providing 145 million more users.
Peter Jarich, the head of GSMA, stated that while mature markets and consumer use cases have driven 5G adoption, the technology is now poised to engage new markets and audiences, entering a second wave of adoption. This shift will challenge the mobile ecosystem to prove the flexibility of 5G in meeting diverse demands inclusively and innovatively.
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In the United States, T-Mobile expects to have 8 million fixed wireless access (FWA) subscribers by 2025, while Verizon targets 5 million FWA subscribers over the same period.
The GSMA report also highlights the enterprise market as a driver for 5G revenue growth over the next decade, with edge computing and IoT deployments offering additional opportunities for use. Approximately 12% of operators have already launched private wireless solutions.