Ericsson has launched its latest Mobility report, which features data on global mobile deployments.
Globally, the vendor says that 300 communications service providers (CSPs) have now launched 5G services, of which only 50 have launched 5G Standalone (5G SA) services. Currently, there are now more than 1.7 billion 5G subscriptions. Ericsson expects this to grow to 5.6 billion 5G subscriptions by 2029.
Although the take-up of 5G is growing, the development varies by region. The report suggests that 5G subscription growth was strong in Western Europe during 2023, rising from 72 million in 2022 to 143 million in 2023. In Eastern Europe, however, 4G remains the dominant technology, accounting for 81% of all subscriptions.
Although 5G population coverage is growing, Ericsson says that 5G coverage deployed in mid-band spectrum only makes up around 35% of global coverage (excluding China). The vendor calls mid-band 5G a “sweet spot” for 5G, as it provides good coverage and capacity while also improving the user experience.
According to Ericsson’s figures, Europe’s mid-band 5G coverage is lagging behind other regions. By the end of 2023, only 30% of Europe’s population was covered by mid-band 5G. This is lower than the US which stood at 85% coverage, and China which stands at 95% coverage.
The full Ericsson Mobility Report can be downloaded here.
