5G connections to pass 1 billion this year, 2 billion in 2025 – GSMA

The number of 5G connections worldwide will pass 1 billion in 2022, according to the latest study from GSMA. By the end of 2025, connections will go higher than 2 billion and made up over 20 percent of total mobile connections: more than 2 in 5 people will live within reach of a 5G network. The rollout of 5G accounted for over 5.5 million of mobile connections 18 months after launch, compared to 3G and 4g which went a bit over 2.2 percent in the same time. 

There are nearly 200 live 5G networks in seventy countries, including 68 operators providing 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services and 23 delivering stand-alone (SA) 5G services. Early network capability initiatives are also underway to support the increasing number of new consumer and enterprise use cases across 5G. These include the 5G utilisation of multiple sub-3GHz spectrum bands, 5G mmWave, 5G Advanced, and Private Networks. 

The GSMA also announced the launch of its GSMA 5G Transformation Hub, designed to promote the adoption of 5G. The hub already includes a number of case studies, involving Verizon, Skydio, Thundercomm, the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, Singtel, Motov and for wind farms with 5G and Vayu AI.