Ericsson predicts massive 5G use

Technology giant Ericsson has predicted that there will be one billion 5G subscriptions by the 2023, with the standard covering more than 20 per cent of the global population in that time

This prediction is among a number of statistics to be found in the November edition of the company’s Mobility Report which was published this week. Other forecasts include that global mobile data traffic will reach 110 exabytes [over one quintillion bytes] a month in six years’ time. Much of this use will be accounted for by streaming video.

The report also suggests a massive upturn in the use of voice over LTE [VoLTE], with subscriptions expected to reach 5.5 billion by 2023.

Speaking of the findings, chief strategy officer and head of technology and emerging business, Ericsson, Niklas Heuveldop said: “The latest report highlights trends in mobile subscription and data traffic growth, as well as the industry’s effort to tackle the increasing demands on mobile networks globally.

“In addition, it examines the emergence of new use cases as network capabilities evolve – smartwatches, IoT alarms, and augmented reality-assisted maintenance and repair, to name a few. As we prepare for 5G, these trends will continue to set the agenda for the mobile industry going forward."