TELECOM | 5G subscriptions pass 3 billion as AI reshapes mobile networks
The report said 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added during the quarter, bringing the worldwide total to 3.1 billion.
Global 5G subscriptions surpassed the three billion mark in the first quarter of 2026 as artificial intelligence, fixed wireless access (FWA) and standalone 5G networks accelerated the evolution of mobile connectivity beyond faster internet speeds, according to Ericsson’s June 2026 Mobility Report.
The report said 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added during the quarter, bringing the worldwide total to 3.1 billion. Ericsson forecasts that the number will more than double to 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, when 5G is expected to account for roughly two-thirds of all mobile subscriptions globally. Around 390 communications service providers have already launched commercial 5G services, while more than 90 have deployed 5G Standalone (SA) networks capable of supporting advanced applications such as network slicing and differentiated connectivity.
The report also found that 5G now carries half of the world’s mobile data traffic, reflecting continued migration from legacy networks. Mobile network traffic grew 22% year over year between the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, reaching about 210 exabytes per month, driven primarily by increased smartphone usage, video consumption and expanding 5G adoption. Ericsson projects that 85% of all mobile data traffic will be carried over 5G by 2031.
During 2025, approximately 400 million more people gained access to 5G services, raising global population coverage to 60%. Outside mainland China, 5G coverage reached about half of the population, although significant regional gaps remain, particularly in Africa and parts of Latin America and Southeast Asia.
AI changing network design
Rather than simply increasing download speeds, Ericsson said artificial intelligence is beginning to change how mobile networks are designed and managed.
The report found that uplink traffic—the data transmitted from devices to the network—is growing faster than downlink traffic for most operators. Based on measurements across 55 service providers, 43 recorded faster uplink growth than downlink, while 17 experienced uplink traffic growth that was at least 1.5 times faster. The increase is being driven by AI assistants, cloud collaboration, user-generated video, cloud storage, smart glasses and other connected devices that continuously upload data.
Ericsson said current mobile networks were largely engineered for download-heavy applications such as video streaming. Emerging AI applications—including augmented reality wearables, autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial sensors and AI-powered mobile assistants—will require sustained uplink capacity for real-time communication with cloud and edge computing systems. Under a medium adoption scenario, Ericsson estimates AI-related services could triple uplink traffic by 2031 compared with 2025 levels.
“The explosive growth of AI is undeniable,” Ericsson Chief Technology Officer Erik Ekudden wrote in the report.
“Mobile networks are no longer only about providing best-effort connectivity, they are becoming critical, intelligent infrastructure that meets diverse application needs.”
Operators pursue new revenue opportunities
The report also points to growing commercialization of 5G Standalone through network slicing, which enables operators to allocate guaranteed network performance for specific applications or customers.
Ericsson identified 84 commercial differentiated connectivity offerings worldwide, up from 65 reported six months earlier. Europe accounts for the largest share of these deployments, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America, suggesting that network slicing is moving from early trials toward broader commercial use.
The company said operators are increasingly packaging guaranteed connectivity for enterprise applications, live events, gaming, broadcasting and business services rather than competing solely on network speed.
FWA gains momentum
Fixed wireless access continues to emerge as one of 5G’s strongest commercial applications.
According to the report, 71% of operators offering FWA now provide the service over 5G, up from 57% a year earlier—the largest annual increase in four years. Meanwhile, 57% of providers now offer speed-based pricing instead of volume-based plans, allowing operators to position FWA as an alternative to fiber broadband.
Ericsson projects global FWA connections will increase from 185 million in 2025 to 350 million by 2031. Nearly 85% of those connections are expected to use 5G, providing broadband access to an estimated 1.4 billion people worldwide.
Within Southeast Asia and Oceania, 5G subscriptions are forecast to increase from around 160 million in 2025 to 670 million by 2031. Ericsson identified Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines as among the region’s fastest-growing 5G markets, while noting that 5G FWA is helping extend broadband services in fiber-constrained areas of the Philippines.
Daniel Ode, Ericsson’s head for Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, said operators could combine 5G Standalone and FWA to improve broadband access while creating new revenue opportunities.
“What operators around the world have shown is that 5G can be both a growth engine and a monetization opportunity. Philippine operators can have confidence from those experiences—combining FWA and 5G Standalone to bridge the digital divide while building sustainable returns,” he said.
Enterprise AI remains in early stages
The report also found that enterprise AI adoption continues to lag despite growing interest.
Research commissioned by Ericsson found that nearly nine in 10 organizations consider AI essential to digital transformation, but only 8% have fully deployed AI across multiple business functions. Similarly, only 18% have broadly adopted cellular technologies needed to support secure, real-time AI applications. Ericsson said this presents an opportunity for operators to expand beyond connectivity by offering integrated mobile, cloud and AI services for enterprise customers.
6G development begins
While 5G deployment continues worldwide, Ericsson said work on 6G has already started.
The report said standardization discussions are underway for AI-native 6G technologies that are expected to integrate sensing, satellite communications and improved energy efficiency. The first commercial 6G services are anticipated around 2030, initially in early-adopter markets including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Ericsson forecasts about 180 million 6G subscriptions by the end of 2031, excluding AI-enabled devices such as autonomous vehicles, drones and smart glasses.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is partially assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).
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