5G - Thematic Intelligence

5G - Thematic Intelligence
Summary

At the end of 2022, 1.7 billion people had a 5G mobile subscription, accounting for 18% of total mobile subscriptions worldwide. We expect that figure to rise to 5.5 billion, or 48% of total mobile subscriptions, by 2027. In the US, 5G penetration will increase from 53% at the end of 2022 to 162% by 2027. In Europe, it will rise from 15% to 88%, in China from 86% to 154%, and in India from 1% to 40% over the same five-year period.

Key Highlights

5G has not yet taken off as many network operators had hoped, and the technology still needs a strong, mass-market business-to-consumer (B2C) use case beyond fixed wireless access (FWA). Given how difficult they have found it to command a premium rate for B2C 5G service, wireless operators’ quest for propulsive consumer 5G use cases will continue. Cloud gaming, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) are among the areas likely to be mined for opportunities.

There are signs that 5G is gaining traction, and enterprises are more willing to consider 5G as a primary access service. In most markets, 5G is not widely available in its standalone (SA) form, which offers its full capabilities (higher speed, low latency, and high device densities for the Internet of Things or IoT). However, where it is (e.g., the US), there are clear signs that enterprises are warming to it. In the more fluid hybrid work environment, enterprises will increasingly look at wireless connectivity for branch offices. Private 5G, in particular, is positioned as a complement to in-building Wi-Fi networks that, along with edge computing, will enable applications such as AR, VR, video analytics, and autonomous robots.

ScopeThis report provides an overview of the 5G theme.It identifies the key trends impacting growth of the theme over the next 12 to 24 months, split into three categories: technology trends, macroeconomic trends, and regulatory trends.It includes a comprehensive industry analysis, including forecasts for 5G subscriptions, penetration, and service revenue to 2027.The overview of 5G's capabilities includes use cases for both consumers and enterprises.Reasons to Buy5G will be one of the most disruptive technology themes of the next decade. This report is a clear, concise guide to 5G, including an overview of its key capabilities and details of the companies that are leading the way.