Ericsson LG: "5G Subscribers Will Account for Half of Total by 2027"

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] As 5G mobile communication is being deployed at the fastest speed compared to previous generations, it is forecasted that by 2027 it will account for half of all mobile subscriptions.

Ericsson LG projected in the 'Ericsson Mobility Report' on the 9th that the global number of 5G subscriptions will approach 660 million by the end of this year.

According to Ericsson LG, the net increase in 5G subscriptions in the third quarter of this year was 98 million, and the population using 5G mobile communication is expected to exceed 2 billion by the end of the year. The increase is driven by expanded demand in China and North America due to the price drop of 5G devices.

The growth rate of 5G subscriptions is faster than that of 4G. Ericsson LG expects 5G to continuously expand coverage and reach 4.4 billion subscriptions by 2027, accounting for about 50% of global mobile subscriptions. It is projected to handle 62% of smartphone traffic and cover 75% of the world population.

Ericsson LG stated, "Timely device availability from suppliers and early market participation in China are key factors," and predicted, "With such subscription growth, 5G will become the dominant mobile access technology by 2027."

4G subscriptions increased by about 48 million during the previous quarter, reaching a total of 4.6 billion as of the third quarter this year. 4G subscriptions are expected to peak at 4.7 billion in the fourth quarter of this year and then decline to about 3.3 billion by the end of 2027 as subscribers migrate to 5G.

Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Ericsson Networks and Executive Vice President, said, "Mobile communication has had an amazing impact on society and business over the past decade, and it will be more important than ever by 2027," adding, "The latest Ericsson Mobility Report shows that technology plays a crucial role and the pace of change is accelerating."