5G connections to surpass 1 billion in 2022, says GSMA

5G connections to surpass 1 billion in 2022, says GSMA. As 5G exhibits the fastest generational roll-out in mobile history, with inventive new use cases propelling adoption.

BARCELONA, Spain, March 2, 2022 – The GSMA predicts that 5G connectivity would reach 1 billion in 2022 and 2 billion by 2025. According to the GSMA’s The Mobile Economy Report 2022, 5G will account for more than a fifth of total mobile connections by 2025, and more than two out of every five people will reside within reach of a 5G network.

This unprecedented growth represents the fastest generational roll-out for the mobile industry compared to 3G and 4G. By comparison, 18 months after its launch, 5G accounted for more than 5.5% of mobile connections – neither 3G nor 4G exceeded 2.2% penetration in the same time. 

Today, approximately 200 5G networks are operational in seventy countries, with 68 operators offering 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services and 23 offering Stand Alone (SA) 5G services. All of this helps to fuel customer demand, which is fueled by an ever-expanding range of 5G-enabled devices at various price ranges.

“5G accounts for a much larger share of global mobile connections than 3G or 4G did at the same point in their lifecycles. Momentum has been boosted by factors including innovative plans, video streaming services, rising 5G handset sales, and network coverage expansions,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. “In addition, the launch of 5G services in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa over the last year means that the technology is now available in every region of the world, so we are set to see more growth and more transformation for services.”

To serve the growing number of new consumer and commercial use cases in the 5G Era, early network capabilities efforts are ongoing. These include 5G mmWave, 5G Advanced, and Private Networks, as well as the use of several sub-3GHz frequency bands in 5G.

The GSMA 5G Transformation Hub goes live

GSMA launched this week, The GSMA 5G Transformation Hub designed to promote adoption and communicate the value 5G delivers for operators, businesses, and governments, and it already includes the following case studies: 

• Live Entertainment: Verizon is using 5G mmWave to deliver optimised fan experiences inside NFL stadiums across the US;
• Infrastructure: Enabling 5G efficient drone inspection of bridges and major structures with Skydio;
• Manufacturing: Making manufacturing more productive with intelligent 5G networked robotics with Thundercomm in China;
• Transportation: South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is entertaining commuters in Seoul with 4K TV on the move, delivered by 5G mmWave;
• Construction: Supporting safe and efficient construction in Singapore with 5G from Singtel;
• Smart cities: Motov’s use of 5G for monitoring the social costs of air pollution and traffic hazards;
• Energy: Improving the performance of wind farm technology with 5G and Vayu AI.