India is set to become the fastest-growing region for 5G Subscriptions globally, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report. It is estimated that 5G subscriptions in India will reach around 10 million by the end of 2022, accounting for 57 percent of mobile subscriptions in the country by the end of 2028. The launch of 5G services in October 2022 has led to significant network deployments under the Digital India initiative. The report also highlighted the strong revenue growth in leading 5G markets globally, with a seven percent boost in the past two years.
Globally, the adoption of 5G technology has surpassed one billion subscriptions, bringing positive revenue growth for communications service providers. The report revealed that around 240 service providers have launched commercial 5G services, and about 35 have deployed or launched 5G standalone (SA) networks. The most common 5G services offered by providers include enhanced mobile broadband, fixed wireless access, gaming, and AR/VR-based services.
In terms of mobile data traffic, global average usage per smartphone is expected to exceed 20GB by the end of 2023. The report also noted the strong uptake of 5G subscriptions in North America, with the region having the highest 5G global subscription penetration at 41 percent by the end of 2022.
The report also highlighted the innovative packaging of mobile services due to the introduction of 5G. Many service providers now offer bundles that include popular entertainment services such as television, music streaming, and cloud gaming platforms. Currently, around 58 percent of 5G service providers offer these bundled services in various forms.
Looking ahead, the report estimated that 5G will account for almost 80 percent of all Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connections by 2028.
In India specifically, the Motorola Edge 40 has recently been introduced as the successor to the Edge 30. The podcast Orbital discusses whether consumers should consider buying this phone instead of the Nothing Phone 1 or the Realme Pro+.
