Ericsson has just released Mobility Report June 2023 with insights that highlight key considerations for future network evolution, industry-leading projections and analysis of the latest trends in the mobile industry.
Ericsson has published its first mobility report in 2023 showing that despite geopolitical challenges, surging inflation and macroeconomic slowdown, communications service providers worldwide are actively investing in 5G networks. As the 2023 edition of the Mobility Report says until the end of 2022 around 240 communications service providers have launched commercial 5G services and about 35 have deployed 5G standalone (SA). The most common consumer 5G services are enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), gaming and some AR/VR-based services, such as training and education.
Another trend among consumer services is the fixed wireless service (FWS) that can compete with fixed very high-speed networks. According to the report more than 100 5G networks of the total 240, are offering 5G fixed wireless access. Deloitte says in a research that FWA may close digital gap, especially in remote, underserved areas who can get effectively internet connectivity through a 5G antenna. In Hungary Yettel was the first to start FWA service in 2022.
The Ericsson report shows that in the top20 5G markets – as Australia, Bahrain, China, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Monaco, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK and the US – a positive revenue growth trend and a significant network performance boost can be seen since the beginning of 2020, that correlates well with the increasing 5G subscription penetration.
5G subscriptions in India reached about 10 million by end of 2022 making the country the fastest growing 5G region globally, as the Report reveals. The uptake of 5G subscriptions in North America has been strong and the region had the highest subscription penetration at 41%. According to the report western Europe is lagging behind other developed regions, with its 5G penetration rate of just 13%. In Hungary penetration of 5G networks has almost hit 20% at the end of last year.
Ericsson also highlighted a growing trend, that around 58% of 5G service providers offer bundles that include entertainment services such as television, music streaming, or cloud gaming platforms as value-added opportunities.
