Mexico. 5G, with the use of standardized 3GPP wireless technology, has already been commercially deployed by 15 mobile network operators in the world, according to 5G Americas and TeleGeography (GlobalComms Database). Another 47 5G technology launches are expected before the end of 2019 to make a total of more than 62 live 5G networks.
LTE will lay a solid foundation for 5G. More than half of the world's mobile wireless connections already use LTE technology, with a reported market share of 51 percent as of the first quarter of 2019, providing 4G mobile broadband access to a large proportion of the world's population, with 4.4 billion connections, according to Ovum data.
"LTE continues to gain momentum globally, as 5G becomes a commercial reality in many parts of the world," said Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas. "The mobile wireless industry has worked hard to deliver technological innovation for both LTE and 5G for the benefit of customers globally."
LTE is currently deployed on 646 networks around the world according to TeleGeography. In addition to growing in terms of deployments and connections, LTE technology evolution continues to expand with 299 LTE-Advanced networks worldwide as of Q1 2019. In addition, although it is not advertised in a major way, there are 60 networks that can be considered LTE-Advanced Pro, 58 of which have deployed narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and / or LTE technology functionalities for Machine Communications (LTE-M) Release 13 of the 3GPP for the Internet of Things.
"The Internet of Things for Mobile is future-proof thanks to 3GPP standards, with many use cases enabled by the Internet of Things by Narrow Band and LTE-M, as we enter fully into the era of the Internet of Things at a massive level," said Vicki Livingston, Vice President of Communications at 5G Americas. "These 4G LTE Internet of Things technologies will form the foundation for the future success of 5G IoT services with Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications requirements for smart factories, connected cars, public safety and other types of critical communications."
Q1 2019 – North America
LTE metrics in the United States and Canada continue to outperform other regions. LTE reached 445 million connections and achieved 121 percent penetration over the total population or 1.2 connections per person as of March 2019 compared to 140 percent penetration of wireless technology overall. This is the highest regional LTE penetration rate in the world.
Comparatively, North America's 87 percent LTE market share far exceeds all other regions of the world; followed by Oceania, the East and Southeast Asia region with an LTE market share of 70 percent, followed by Western Europe with 54 percent (Ovum data).
North America is also among the world's leading innovators in 5G, with three domestic operators offering live 5G services in numerous markets across the country, and a fourth deployment planned for this year. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, the driving force behind the leadership of 5G technology for the country, there will be 92 U.S. cities with 5G services by the end of 2019.
LTE NB-IoT and/or LTE-M has been deployed by 5 operators in the United States and Canada
LTE is projected to reach 473 million connections by the end of 2020 (including M2M)
5G connections are projected to reach 4 million by the end of 2020 and increase to 186 million by the end of 2023.
Q1 2018 - Latin America and the Caribbean
"In Uruguay, Antel has launched the region's first 5G network, with more 5G deployments planned as operators in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to invest in advanced network deployments for LTE," said José Otero, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean at 5G Americas. "With the support of governments in the region in providing more licensed and globally harmonized spectrum, the momentum and societal benefits of LTE and 5G will continue."
LTE's market share increased to 44 percent as of Q1 2019, and this is projected to be the most widely used cellular technology in the region by the end of 2020.
698 million total mobile subscriptions, including 306 million LTE connections
LTE is projected to reach 348 million connections by the end of 2019 (including M2M)
By the end of 2022, LTE is projected to reach 500 million connections (including M2M)
Q1 2018 - Global
By the end of March 2019, LTE connections globally had reached 4.4 billion and market share reached 51 percent. LTE connections are forecast to reach 6 billion by the end of 2022 (including M2M) and 61 percent market share. Ovum predicts that 5G technology will reach 37 million by the end of 2020, grow to 156 million by the end of 2021, and then rise to more than 500 million by 2022. 5G Americas member Ericsson has projected that 5G subscriptions will reach $1.9 billion by 2024.
The remarkable development is that the 5G technology standardized by 3GPP was launched in 15 markets around the world, with 62 total deployments planned for the end of 2019 (TeleGeography).
Launch of 5 5G networks planned for the end of Q2 (June) 2019
Launch of 11 5G networks planned for the end of Q3 2019
Launch of 13 5G networks planned for the end of 2019
Another 17 operators announced plans to roll out 5G in 2019
More than 100 operators announced their 5G deployment plans in 2020 and beyond, and are in the testing, piloting and construction phase of their networks in planned stages of deployments.
