Photo by: Bloomberg
As long-term evolution (LTE) subscriptions continue on a rapid upward trajectory, a new Ericsson report predicts a surge in the still-to-be-commercially-deployed fifth-generation (5G) technology that would attract upwards of 150-million subscribers by 2021.
The Ericsson Mobility Report, launched at AfricaCom in Cape Town on Tuesday, showed that LTE subscriptions had reached around 850-million in the third quarter of 2015, with expectations of surpassing the one-billion mark by the end of the year.
China had surpassed the US as the world's largest LTE market, accounting for some 350-million – or 35% – of global LTE subscriptions.
By 2021, Ericsson forecast 1.2-billion LTE subscriptions, accounting for the largest share of the world’s mobile subscriptions, as mobile data traffic grew ten-fold.
However, South Korea, Japan, China and the US would lead the way for 150-million 5G subscriptions in the next five years, opening up opportunities for new industries and verticals within the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
“5G is about more than faster mobile services – it will enable new use cases related to the Internet of Things,” explained Ericsson senior VP and chief strategy officer Rima Qureshi.
The subscription uptake of 5G, which was only expected to be deployed commercially in 2020, was expected to be faster than that of fourth-generation technology.