Data traffic on mobile networks has increased about 300 times over the past 10 years.
By 2027, 5G will become the dominant mobile technology.
These are some data contained in the Ericsson Mobility Report which photographs the trends that have shaped the last decade of the industry, with a look at the coming years.
According to the report, more mobile data traffic was generated in the third quarter of 2021 alone than all that produced until the end of 2016. Since 2011, the year of the first Mobility Report, there are 5.5 billion more smartphone users.
Another staple of the analysis is that 5G will become the fastest-deployed mobile generation ever: there will be nearly 660 million 5G subscriptions by the end of this year. The increase is due to stronger-than-expected demand in China and North America, due in part to lower prices for 5G devices. At the end of 2021, 5G networks are estimated to provide coverage to more than two billion people. And according to the latest forecasts, 5G by 2027 is expected to account for around 50% of all mobile subscriptions worldwide, covering 75% of the world's population and carrying 62% of global traffic generated by smartphones.
"Mobile communication has had an incredible impact on society and business over the past decade. When we look to 2027, mobile networks will more than ever be an integral part of the way we interact, live and work," explains Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson.