Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass Three Billion Mark
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- 5G Subscription Surge: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid expansion potential of the 5G market.
- Network Slicing Commercialization: The number of commercial services based on 5G standalone network slicing increased from 65 in November 2025 to 84, indicating that service providers are transitioning from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, enhancing market competitiveness.
- Uplink Traffic Growth: Among 55 service providers, 43 experienced faster uplink growth than downlink, with some showing uplink rates exceeding downlink by 1.5 times, reflecting changing user behaviors and increased demand for cloud storage and content sharing.
- Fixed Wireless Access Services: 71% of fixed wireless access providers now offer services over 5G, up from 57% in June 2025, demonstrating strong market demand for speed-based tariff plans, particularly in North America and the Nordics.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ERIC?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ERIC
Wall Street analysts forecast ERIC stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 12.280
Low
6.40
Averages
9.33
High
11.00
Current: 12.280
Low
6.40
Averages
9.33
High
11.00
About ERIC
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) provides infrastructure, services and software to the telecommunication industry and other sectors. The Company's segments include Networks, IT & Cloud and Media. The Networks segment consists of two business units: Network Products and Network Services. The overall focus is on evolving and managing access networks, including the development of hardware and software for radio access and transport networks. The IT & Cloud business includes two business units: IT & Cloud Products and IT & Cloud Services. The focus in IT & Cloud is to help telecom operators and selected enterprises through the digital transformations ahead. It develops and delivers software-based solutions for television and media and combines a product portfolio that spans the television value chain, with systems integration and managed services. The portfolio includes compression, content publishing through set-top box or pure over-the-top, content delivery and analytics.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass Three Billion Mark
- Surge in 5G Subscriptions: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid growth potential of the 5G market.
- Accelerated Network Slicing Commercialization: The number of commercial services based on 5G standalone network slicing increased from 65 to 84, indicating that service providers are transitioning differentiated connectivity services from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, enhancing market competitiveness.
- Significant Uplink Traffic Growth: Among 55 service providers, 43 experienced higher uplink growth rates than downlink, with some showing uplink growth rates 1.5 times higher than downlink, reflecting changing user behaviors and increased demand for cloud storage and content sharing.
- Widespread Fixed Wireless Access Services: 71% of fixed wireless access providers now offer services over 5G, a 14% increase from 2025, demonstrating strong market demand for speed-based tariff plans, particularly in North America and GCC countries.
See More
Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass 3 Billion Mark
- 5G Subscription Surge: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid expansion potential of the 5G market.
- Increase in Network Slicing Services: The number of commercial offerings based on 5G standalone network slicing rose from 65 in November 2025 to 84, indicating a shift from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, thereby enhancing service providers' competitive edge in the market.
- Uplink Traffic Growth: Uplink traffic is growing faster than downlink for most service providers, with 43 out of 55 reporting higher uplink growth rates, and 17 experiencing uplink growth rates more than 1.5 times that of downlink, reflecting the impact of smartphone communication and user-generated content sharing, signaling a fundamental shift in traffic patterns.
- Attraction of Fixed Wireless Access: 71% of fixed wireless access providers are now offering services over 5G, up from 57% in June 2025, demonstrating the successful adoption of speed-based tariff plans as a structured monetization strategy targeting various market segments.
See More
Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass Three Billion Mark
- 5G Subscription Surge: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid expansion potential of the 5G market.
- Network Slicing Commercialization: The number of commercial services based on 5G standalone network slicing increased from 65 in November 2025 to 84, indicating that service providers are transitioning from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, enhancing market competitiveness.
- Uplink Traffic Growth: Among 55 service providers, 43 experienced faster uplink growth than downlink, with some showing uplink rates exceeding downlink by 1.5 times, reflecting changing user behaviors and increased demand for cloud storage and content sharing.
- Fixed Wireless Access Services: 71% of fixed wireless access providers now offer services over 5G, up from 57% in June 2025, demonstrating strong market demand for speed-based tariff plans, particularly in North America and the Nordics.
See More
Ericsson Secures Record Headquarters Deal in Sweden
- Headquarters Relocation: Cushman & Wakefield advised Ericsson in securing a new 1 million-square-foot headquarters in Stockholm, marking the largest office transaction in Sweden and a significant event in the European office market.
- Strategic Location: The new headquarters in Hagastaden is situated near four universities and the renowned Karolinska Hospital, enhancing Ericsson's position within the innovation ecosystem and fostering talent and innovation.
- Support in Complex Negotiations: The Cushman & Wakefield team provided comprehensive support throughout the process, including signing six leases with two different landlords, showcasing their expertise in handling complex transactions.
- Long-term Growth Catalyst: Ericsson views the new headquarters as a catalyst for long-term growth, emphasizing its commitment to a future workplace that strengthens its leadership position in the technology sector.
See More
Vonage Launches Industry-Specific AI Intelligence in Contact Centers
- Strategic Partnerships Driving Innovation: Vonage's collaboration with Avaamo and Syndeo enables the embedding of industry-specific AI agents directly into contact centers, enhancing customer experiences in healthcare, financial services, and retail while reducing operational complexity and improving efficiency.
- Cost Reduction and Service Acceleration: By automating routine patient and customer interactions, Vonage's solution significantly lowers operational costs while streamlining workflows for repetitive tasks like appointment scheduling and billing, thereby enhancing service speed.
- Compliance and Multilingual Support: The new system offers multilingual support and allows for regional data storage, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, which helps enterprises maintain compliance and build customer trust globally.
- Human-Centric Customer Experience: AI agents can quickly respond to customer needs, freeing live agents to handle more complex, personalized tasks, thus improving overall customer experience and driving sustainable growth.
See More
Ericsson's Nomination Committee Appointed
- Committee Formation: On May 29, 2026, Ericsson announced the formation of its Nomination Committee for the 2027 Annual General Meeting, chaired by Johan Forsell, ensuring transparency in governance and shareholder engagement.
- Proposal Submission Process: Shareholders are invited to submit proposals to the Nomination Committee, which must be received in a timely manner before the Annual General Meeting, enhancing shareholder influence on corporate decisions.
- Contact Information Provided: Ericsson has made the Nomination Committee's contact details available, including email and phone numbers, facilitating communication between shareholders and the committee, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder feedback.
- Company Background: With 150 years of history, Ericsson has been a pioneer in communication technology, offering mobile communication and connectivity solutions, dedicated to creating a digital future for service providers and enterprises.
See More
Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass Three Billion Mark
- Surge in 5G Subscriptions: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid growth potential of the 5G market.
- Accelerated Network Slicing Commercialization: The number of commercial services based on 5G standalone network slicing increased from 65 to 84, indicating that service providers are transitioning differentiated connectivity services from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, enhancing market competitiveness.
- Significant Uplink Traffic Growth: Among 55 service providers, 43 experienced higher uplink growth rates than downlink, with some showing uplink growth rates 1.5 times higher than downlink, reflecting changing user behaviors and increased demand for cloud storage and content sharing.
- Widespread Fixed Wireless Access Services: 71% of fixed wireless access providers now offer services over 5G, a 14% increase from 2025, demonstrating strong market demand for speed-based tariff plans, particularly in North America and GCC countries.
See More
Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass 3 Billion Mark
- 5G Subscription Surge: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid expansion potential of the 5G market.
- Increase in Network Slicing Services: The number of commercial offerings based on 5G standalone network slicing rose from 65 in November 2025 to 84, indicating a shift from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, thereby enhancing service providers' competitive edge in the market.
- Uplink Traffic Growth: Uplink traffic is growing faster than downlink for most service providers, with 43 out of 55 reporting higher uplink growth rates, and 17 experiencing uplink growth rates more than 1.5 times that of downlink, reflecting the impact of smartphone communication and user-generated content sharing, signaling a fundamental shift in traffic patterns.
- Attraction of Fixed Wireless Access: 71% of fixed wireless access providers are now offering services over 5G, up from 57% in June 2025, demonstrating the successful adoption of speed-based tariff plans as a structured monetization strategy targeting various market segments.
See More
Global 5G Subscriptions Surpass Three Billion Mark
- 5G Subscription Surge: In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to 3.1 billion, with projections indicating a rise to over 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, highlighting the rapid expansion potential of the 5G market.
- Network Slicing Commercialization: The number of commercial services based on 5G standalone network slicing increased from 65 in November 2025 to 84, indicating that service providers are transitioning from early adoption to mainstream commercialization, enhancing market competitiveness.
- Uplink Traffic Growth: Among 55 service providers, 43 experienced faster uplink growth than downlink, with some showing uplink rates exceeding downlink by 1.5 times, reflecting changing user behaviors and increased demand for cloud storage and content sharing.
- Fixed Wireless Access Services: 71% of fixed wireless access providers now offer services over 5G, up from 57% in June 2025, demonstrating strong market demand for speed-based tariff plans, particularly in North America and the Nordics.
See More
Ericsson Secures Record Headquarters Deal in Sweden
- Headquarters Relocation: Cushman & Wakefield advised Ericsson in securing a new 1 million-square-foot headquarters in Stockholm, marking the largest office transaction in Sweden and a significant event in the European office market.
- Strategic Location: The new headquarters in Hagastaden is situated near four universities and the renowned Karolinska Hospital, enhancing Ericsson's position within the innovation ecosystem and fostering talent and innovation.
- Support in Complex Negotiations: The Cushman & Wakefield team provided comprehensive support throughout the process, including signing six leases with two different landlords, showcasing their expertise in handling complex transactions.
- Long-term Growth Catalyst: Ericsson views the new headquarters as a catalyst for long-term growth, emphasizing its commitment to a future workplace that strengthens its leadership position in the technology sector.
See More
Vonage Launches Industry-Specific AI Intelligence in Contact Centers
- Strategic Partnerships Driving Innovation: Vonage's collaboration with Avaamo and Syndeo enables the embedding of industry-specific AI agents directly into contact centers, enhancing customer experiences in healthcare, financial services, and retail while reducing operational complexity and improving efficiency.
- Cost Reduction and Service Acceleration: By automating routine patient and customer interactions, Vonage's solution significantly lowers operational costs while streamlining workflows for repetitive tasks like appointment scheduling and billing, thereby enhancing service speed.
- Compliance and Multilingual Support: The new system offers multilingual support and allows for regional data storage, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, which helps enterprises maintain compliance and build customer trust globally.
- Human-Centric Customer Experience: AI agents can quickly respond to customer needs, freeing live agents to handle more complex, personalized tasks, thus improving overall customer experience and driving sustainable growth.
See More
Ericsson's Nomination Committee Appointed
- Committee Formation: On May 29, 2026, Ericsson announced the formation of its Nomination Committee for the 2027 Annual General Meeting, chaired by Johan Forsell, ensuring transparency in governance and shareholder engagement.
- Proposal Submission Process: Shareholders are invited to submit proposals to the Nomination Committee, which must be received in a timely manner before the Annual General Meeting, enhancing shareholder influence on corporate decisions.
- Contact Information Provided: Ericsson has made the Nomination Committee's contact details available, including email and phone numbers, facilitating communication between shareholders and the committee, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder feedback.
- Company Background: With 150 years of history, Ericsson has been a pioneer in communication technology, offering mobile communication and connectivity solutions, dedicated to creating a digital future for service providers and enterprises.
See More
