Ericsson Predicts 3.5 Billion 5G Users By 2026

According to Ericsson’s most recent Mobility report, researchers predict that 5G coverage will support roughly 3.5 billion customers by 2026.

The demand for 5G capabilities has surged over the course of the pandemic, due to the overwhelming need for high speed networking for remote services. Researchers found that 5G access has become the most rapidly deployed network ever based on subscription and population coverage. Ericsson estimates that roughly 15% of the global population was connected to 5G at the end of 2020.

“This year has seen society take a big leap towards digitalization. The pandemic has highlighted the impact connectivity has on our lives and has acted as a catalyst for rapid change, which is also clearly visible in this latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report.”said Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson.

The desire for fast and reliable network coverage is becoming a necessity for both business and personal uses, and 5G provides unmatched speed compared to alternative networking methods. 5G will also offer new tech capabilities, like time-sensitive data delivery, that provide developers with new angles for business and consumer applications. This has become particularly attractive for mobile gaming, which would allow mobile devices a quality of experience that’s comparable to PC and console formats.

“5G is entering the next phase, when new devices and applications make the most out of the benefits it provides, while service providers continue to build out 5G,” added Jejdling “Mobile networks are a critical infrastructure for many aspects of everyday life and 5G will be key to future economic prosperity.”