The wireless telecommunications sector experienced an extraordinary year of advancement and expansion, largely driven by the unstoppable surge of 5G technology.

Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas, emphasized the industry’s transition into a new era characterized by innovation and collaboration, shaping a connected future. With Fixed Wireless Access serving as a catalyst for increased consumer broadband demand, Pearson highlighted the ongoing advancements in technology that promise unparalleled connectivity experiences worldwide.

North America emerged as a leader in 5G adoption, witnessing a remarkable 64% year-over-year growth in connections, totaling 197 million by the end of 2023. In Latin America, substantial progress was observed in both 4G LTE and 5G connections, with LTE connections reaching 582 million and 5G connections reaching 39 million by year-end.

Looking ahead, Omdia’s forecasts paint a promising outlook for the telecommunications landscape. By 2028, global 5G connections are projected to skyrocket to 7.9 billion, with North America expected to boast an impressive 700 million 5G connections. Kristin Paulin, principal analyst at Omdia, highlighted the transformative impact of 5G, projecting it to account for more than half of all connections globally by 2028.

Additionally, 5G data traffic is forecasted to dominate technology data traffic, reaching a monumental 2.6 billion TB by 2028, reflecting the exponential growth trajectory of 5G connectivity.

Amidst the dominance of 5G technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem remains integral to the digital revolution. Currently, global IoT subscriptions stand at 3.1 billion, along with 6.6 billion smartphone subscriptions. Forecasts indicate a surge in IoT subscriptions to 4.5 billion and smartphone subscriptions to 7.4 billion by 2026, highlighting the evolving nature of connectivity in our digital world.

Globally, the deployment of 5G networks showcases strength compared to 4G LTE deployments, with 314 commercial 5G networks currently operational worldwide. This number is expected to grow to 450 by 2025, reflecting major investments in 5G infrastructure on a global scale.

As of March 18, 2024, the number of deployed 5G and 4G LTE networks stands as follows:

5G

• Global: 314
• North America: 17
• Latin America and Caribbean: 39

4G LTE

• Global: 714
• North America: 18
• Latin America and Caribbean: 135