The latest Ericsson Mobility Report estimates that by the end of 2023, nearly one-fifth of the global mobile users will be 5G users. Despite some markets facing ongoing economic challenges and geopolitical uncertainties, the growth of 5G demonstrates its resilience. The November 2023 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report projects the addition of 610 million new 5G users in 2023, a 63% increase from 2022, bringing the total global 5G user base to 1.6 billion, approximately 100 million more than previously forecasted.

Ericsson's latest report (25th edition) has set a new timetable for statistical forecasts, extending from 2028 to 2029. Similar to previous reports, the November 2023 edition confirms that Enhanced Mobile Broadband, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), gaming, and AR/VR-based services are among the most common early consumer use cases for 5G.

Looking at regions, 5G users in North America continue to experience robust growth. By the end of 2023, the region is expected to have the highest 5G user penetration globally, reaching 61%. Throughout 2023, India also sees strong growth in 5G users. By the end of 2023, approximately 14 months after commercial launch, the 5G penetration rate in India is projected to exceed 11%.

From the end of 2023 to 2029, global 5G users are expected to grow by over 330%, increasing from 1.6 billion to 5.3 billion. It is projected that by the end of 2023, 5G will cover over 45% of the global population, and by the end of 2029, it will reach 85%. The North America and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is expected to have the highest 5G penetration rate by the end of 2029, reaching 92%. Meanwhile, Western Europe is anticipated to achieve a penetration rate of 85% by the same time.

Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks at Ericsson, stated, "This year, the global addition of 5G users has surpassed 600 million, and growth is evident in every region, highlighting a strong demand for high-performance connectivity. The rollout of 5G continues, and we are witnessing an increasing number of deployments of 5G SA networks, offering opportunities to support new, high-demand applications for both consumers and businesses."

The average data consumption per smartphone globally continues to rise. It is projected that between the end of 2023 and the end of 2029, the total mobile data traffic will double, increasing from 21GB per month to 56GB per month. This growth is attributed to improvements in device capabilities, an increase in data-intensive content, and ongoing enhancements in deployed network performance.

Peter Jonsson, Executive Editor of the Ericsson Mobility Report, stated, "The growth rate of mobile network data traffic clearly reflects consumers' enthusiasm for enhanced mobile broadband-related applications. As more and more consumers worldwide embrace 5G and new use cases emerge, this trend is set to accelerate, leading to further growth in data traffic. Given that most traffic is generated indoors, and people tend to spend the majority of their time indoors, there is an increasing need to expand 5G mid-band coverage both indoors and outdoors to ensure a comprehensive 5G experience at all locations."

The mid-band spectrum in 5G, combining high capacity and good coverage, has emerged as an ideal choice for delivering a comprehensive 5G experience. Currently, the population coverage of 5G mid-band spectrum exceeds 40%, surpassing the 30% reported in 2022. This growth is primarily driven by extensive mid-band deployments in India, along with several mid-band deployments in Europe.

Furthermore, the latest Ericsson report explores wireless connectivity in the manufacturing industry, highlighting how 5G becomes a critical determinant of production output and how it achieves the agility required to support rapid changes and resource reallocation.