Global 5G adoption is accelerating rapidly, with billions of new connections expected by the end of the decade, driven by the demand for ultra-fast speeds, low latency and support for a growing number of connected devices. This surge is driving a sharp rise in mobile data traffic, as applications like video streaming, cloud gaming and internet of things solutions become more widespread. Mid-band 5G coverage is expanding globally, offering a balance of speed and range that supports both urban and increasingly rural deployments. At the same time, fixed wireless access (FWA) is emerging as a key solution for delivering highspeed internet to areas underserved by traditional broadband.

Ericsson’s mobility report for June 2025 tracks global trends in 5G adoption, mobile data traffic, mid-band coverage and FWA. It highlights regional differences, India’s rapid growth and the rising role of FWA in expanding broadband, especially in underserved and high-demand areas.

A look at the key highlights of the report…

Regional growth trends in 5G adoption

5G is scaling faster than any previous generation of mobile technology. As this shift accelerates, legacy technologies are being phased out. The global phase-out of 3G is moving faster than that of 2G. By the end of 2024, 5G had reached 2.3 billion subscriptions worldwide (27 per cent penetration). This figure is set to nearly triple to 6.3 billion by 2030, comprising two-thirds of global mobile subscriptions. Of these, nearly 3.7 billion will be standalone 5G.

Region-wise, Western Europe is ­expected to lead in 5G penetration, with North America and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) close behind. Central and Eastern Europe has lagged behind due to delayed spectrum auctions and policy fragmentation. However, this is changing. While 4G still accounts for 85 per cent of subscriptions as of 2024, 5G uptake is gaining speed and is expected to surpass 4G after its peak in 2025.

In North America, the 5G momentum remains strong. An additional 42 million 5G subscriptions are expected in 2025, pushing the total to 358 million. With widespread mid-band coverage now in place, new applications are emerging at the intersection of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud. FWA is growing steadily, supported by advancements in 5G Advanced and slicing.

Across the GCC, telcos are reinventing themselves as digital service providers. With strong urban infrastructure and high spending power, 5G adoption here is backed by investments in AI, edge computing and cloud. Network slicing is expected to become central for delivering reliable, latency-sensitive services. FWA is expanding too, driven by smart city initiatives and demand in underserved areas.

Interestingly, in Northeast Asia, 5G penetration was already at 52 per cent by end 2024, trailing closely behind the leading regions. Southeast Asia and Oceania are seeing diverse patterns of growth. The region is expected to reach 630 million 5G subscriptions by 2030.

India, however, stands out for both pace and scale. With over 90 per cent population coverage and rising rural demand, the country is adding 5G users rapidly. At the end of 2024, India had 290 million 5G subscriptions, which is 24 per cent of its mobile base. This is projected to reach 980 million by 2030, covering 75 per cent of users. As a result, India’s 4G share will shrink dramatically from 620 million in 2024 to just 230 million subscriptions by 2030.

In Latin America, 4G is still dominant, but change is under way. By 2030, 5G is expected to account for 480 million subscriptions of all mobile connections.

Meanwhile, the Middle East and North Africa region continues to invest in digital transformation despite geopolitical and economic pressures. 5G is set to become the dominant mobile technology by 2030, while 4G will decline to 37 per cent. Further, Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth story is just beginning. With increasing smartphone access and mobile data usage, the region is moving toward 5G, albeit slowly. 5G subscriptions are expected to reach 400 million by 2030.

Growth of mobile network data traffic 

Mobile data traffic is growing consistently, but the pace is easing. By 2030, year-on-year growth is expected to slow to 15 per cent, with an overall CAGR of 17 per cent. Even so, the volume is staggering. Without factoring in FWA, global mobile data traffic is projected to more than double, reaching 280 exabytes (EB) per month by 2030. With FWA included, that number jumps to 430 EB per month, a 2.6x increase from current levels. 5G’s role in this explosion is undeniable – its share of total mobile data traffic rose from 26 per cent in 2023 to 35 per cent in 2024 and is expected to reach 80 per cent by the end of the decade.

However, traffic growth is not linear. Faster migration to 5G in markets like India, Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia will push traffic higher. The adoption of bandwidth-intensive applications, such as augmented reality, virtual reality and generative AI will add to the load. Shifting consumption patterns will also affect 5G traffic, as more households adopt FWA over mobile, particularly in areas where wired broadband is limited. Affordable tariff plans, better smartphone penetration and improving network quality are all driving up the ARPU.

5G mid-band coverage

There are now 835 operational 4G networks globally, including 346 upgraded to LTE-Advanced and 160 that are gigabit-­enabled. By the end of 2024, the global 4G population coverage, excluding China, stood at 90 per cent and is projected to cross 95 per cent by 2030. 5G is catching up fast. In 2024, global 5G population coverage hit 55 per cent. Outside China, it stood at 45 per cent but is expected to surge to 85 per cent by 2030. Mid-band 5G, using time division duplex or frequency division duplex (FDD), delivers both high capacity and broad reach, especially when combined with low-band FDD to enable full coverage and mobility.

Latin America and Africa remain at the lower end of the spectrum. Europe matches the global mid-band average of 50 per cent but lags behind North America and India. Despite steady gains, only about 30 per cent of mobile sites outside China have been upgraded to mid-band 5G so far.

FWA service adoption

FWA is expanding rapidly, in coverage, user base and monetisation. In four of six global regions, over 84 per cent of service providers now offer FWA. Western, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and North Africa are leading in speed-based FWA offerings. Latin America and parts of Southeast Asia are showing strong potential, especially for 5G-based FWA. In the GCC, all service providers now offer 5G FWA.

Global FWA connections are projected to more than double, from 160 million in 2024 to 350 million by 2030. Over 80 per cent of these connections will be on 5G. 4G FWA is expected to peak in 2026. At the same time, FWA traffic, which already represented 25 per cent of mobile data in 2024, is expected to reach 151 EB per month by 2030, making up 35 per cent of total mobile network data traffic.

One of FWA’s biggest advantages is its speed of deployment. It leverages existing mobile infrastructure, which already covers over 90 per cent of the global population, and is especially critical in areas where ­fibre or cable broadband remains unviable. Asia-Pacific is leading this shift. Its share of global FWA connections is expected to grow from 40 per cent in 2024 to 51 per cent in 2030. This high-volume uptake in large, fast growing markets is likely to drive down customer premises equipment costs and create economies of scale.This momentum is also reshaping the broader fixed broadband landscape. Global fixed broadband connections will rise from 1.6 billion to 2 billion by 2030. Of the 550 million new additions, more than a quarter will come from legacy upgrades, from digital subscriber line and cable to ­fibre, satellite or 5G FWA. The rest will be brand-new connections, driven by expanding populations and targeted efforts to connect previously unserved households.

FWA’s growth opportunity extends beyond homes. It includes secondary residences, small businesses and remote set-ups, highlighting the role of FWA in bridging last-mile gaps. Continued innovation, long-term investment and tech-neutral regulation will be key to scaling this further.

Conclusion

5G is reshaping global connectivity, powering smarter networks and enabling broader access. FWA is emerging as a vital alternative to wired broadband, especially in underserved areas. Together, they are driving a shift that blends speed, mobility and flexibility to support the world’s growing digital and economic ambitions.

Harshita Kalra