On Tuesday, June 21, Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson revealed its forecast regarding the 5G mobile subscriptions.
The company stated that by the end of 2022, there would be 1 billion 5G mobile subscriptions worldwide as other telecommunication companies continue to expand their services.
5G subscription expected to hit 1 Billion
According to Ericsson's Mobility Report, despite the declining economy and the effects caused by Russia's war on Ukraine, the numbers are still pretty high, but the original estimate should have been 100 million more.
The impressive numbers are thanks to the increasing 5G subscriptions in North-East Asia and North America in 2021, getting a penetration rate of 19% and 28%, respectively.
According to ZDNET, the 5G subscriptions worldwide increased to 70 million in the first three months of 2022, making a total of 620 million 5G subscribers worldwide.
The country with the most 5G subscribers is China, with 16 million, followed by the United States at 4 million, and Bangladesh ranked third with 3 million.
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Business Standard reported that telecommunication companies expect the global 5G subscriptions to hit 4.4 billion, which accounts for 48% of their total subscriptions.
The distribution of the 5G service is also a lot faster compared to 4G back in 2009, with the former getting 1 billion subscribers two years quicker than the latter.
Ericsson said that this fast-paced distribution of the 5G service worldwide is thanks to the increasing device availability, better prices, and China's early 5G deployments.
Telecom companies expect North America to have the highest 5G penetration rate by 2027, with a forecast of 90% of their total subscriptions.
The Gulf Corporation Council or GCC is expected to have the second-highest penetration rate of 88%, followed by Western Europe at 82% and North-East Asia at 74%.
Shutting Down 3G
As the 5G subscription slowly rolls out, all major telecom companies in the United States announced in 2021 that it would be shutting down 3G service.
According to PCMag, AT&T shut down its 3G network on Feb. 22, but it is still available in some states.
Sprint originally shut down its 3G service on Mar. 31, but still made it available to some customers until May 31 before permanently discontinuing it.
T-Mobile will shut down its 3G network on July 1, but it will continue operating its 2G network but only to selected customers. Verizon is scheduled to discontinue its 3G network on Dec. 31.
The carriers will contact all customers via postcard or phone call if the 3G shutdown affects them.
According to the CTIA record, in the United States, around 9% of the population are still 2G and 3G users. That includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, medical alert devices, home alarm systems, cars, and other devices.
The newer smartphones, such as iPhone 6, will not be affected by the shutdown, same with Galaxy S5 smartphones and all newer generations.
All smartphones and devices that were released in 2014 and flip phones that were released in 2017 will continue to work as they got 4G and 5G built-in for connection.
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Written by Sophie Webster
