Latin America. Mobile network operators continue to bring 5G networks online despite the pandemic and economic slowdown and somewhat diminished growth in 5G subscriptions in certain areas, according to 5G Americas.
In Q2 2020, another 30 5G networks were activated, bringing the total to 114 commercial 5G networks in the world, a figure that is expected to practically double to reach 204 by the end of 2020, according to data from TeleGeography.
Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas, said, "The pace of new commercial 5G network launches remained healthy throughout this challenging quarter, with mobile network operators continuing to develop 5G networks for the long term."
5G continues to provide significant growth for the cellular wireless industry in light of an overall increase in data traffic on global mobile networks of 53 percent in the past year (including fixed wireless access), according to Ericsson's latest report, Ericsson Mobility September 2020 Report. Data from Omdia shows that there are already almost 138 million 5G connections in the world at Q2 2020, which represents a growth of 116% compared to Q1 2020. In addition, to date there are 190 models of commercial 5G devices available worldwide at the end of August, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA).
Going forward, Omdia projects that 5G connections will reach 236 million in the world by the end of 2020, of which North America will account for 10 million connections. In the words of Kristin Paulin, Senior Analyst at Omdia: "We expect growth to accelerate in the second half of the year, following the de-escalation of closures, and the continuation of 5G network expansions and the availability of more 5G devices."
Pearson said: "Different regions of the world are experiencing significantly different 5G subscription growth rates due to the pandemic and the economic challenges it has caused. Growth in North America continues to be strong, while the Caribbean and Latin American markets are just taking their first steps."
At the end of Q2 2020, North America had 2.3 million 5G connections and 497 million LTE connections. For the region, this represents 69% quarterly growth in 5G, an increase close to one million 5G connections over the quarter. It also represents 1% growth in LTE, up from 4.6 million LTE connections during the quarter.
According to José Otero, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean of 5G Americas, "5G is breaking many records in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is the fastest mobile technology to reach the region and the first included as part of many government national development plans, such as Brazil, Colombia and Chile."
In the quarter, Latin America and the Caribbean saw 3,685 5G subscriptions, or a sequential quarterly growth of 25%, and 378 million LTE subscriptions (2% growth over the previous quarter), respectively. By the end of 2020, Latin America and the Caribbean will account for another 189,000 5G connections, according to Projections by Omdia.
Otero added: "Uruguay led the way by being the third country in the world to have a 5G network and, since then, six other countries in the region began to offer services. We anticipate the announcement of more commercial operations in the next 12 months, and that 5G will account for 23% of the region's mobile lines by 2025, according to Omdia."
Aside from 5G, overall global 4G LTE connections are projected to continue to grow internationally until the end of 2022. They are projected to reach $5.7 billion by the end of 2020, of which $506 million will come from North America and $406 million from Latin America and the Caribbean.
In total, the following number of wireless networks with 4G and 5G technologies were deployed in the world and in the Americas as of September 16, 2020, according to TeleGeography:
Worldwide:
5G: 114
LTE Advanced: 335
LTE: 682
Latin America and the Caribbean:
5G: 10
LTE Advanced: 49
LTE: 125
North America:
5G: 7
LTE Advanced: 12
LTE: 23
*Source: TeleGeography and 5G Americas
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