5G is on course to become the most widely-adopted, exceeding 4G LTE by over 2.5 billion connections in 2028, according to 5G Americas, citing data from Omdia.
The research finds a surge in new 5G connections in the last six months, an astounding addition of 331 million new 5G connections, pushing the global total to an impressive 1.4 billion.
This surge in adoption and network deployments sets the stage for further acceleration, with projections indicating an imminent approach to the 2 billion mark by the end of 2023. By 2028, Omdia's latest forecast anticipates 8 billion 5G connections, surpassing the first-decade growth of LTE by over 2.5 billion connections.
Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas, stated, "The phenomenal global growth of 5G connections underscores the insatiable demand for advanced connectivity. With 1.4 billion connections and counting, we are witnessing the transformative power of 5G technology as the industry focuses on integrating 5G connectivity into new devices and services in this era of innovation."
North America continues to lead in the 5G race. By the close of Q2 2023, the region boasts an impressive 151 million 5G connections and a robust 496 million LTE connections. The 5G penetration rate in North America has reached an exceptional 40 percent, with a growth rate of 25.5% in the first half of 2023. Projections indicate that North America's 5G connections will reach a remarkable 669 million by 2028.
Currently, there are 287 commercial 5G networks worldwide, and this number is anticipated to grow to 425 by 2025. This reflects significant investments in 5G infrastructure worldwide. The number of 5G and 4G LTE network deployments as of September 15, 2023 are summarized below:
5G:
- Global: 287
- North America: 17
- Latin America and Caribbean: 29
4G LTE:
- Global: 707
- North America: 17
- Latin America and Caribbean: 31
