Global wireless 5G connections are forecast to reach 1.3 billion by the end of 2022 and 2 billion in 2023 and 4.8 billion in 2026, according to a report from Omdia, said 5G Americas.

The world added 303 million 5G connections, representing 139 percent increase 218 million to 521 million, and sequentially 19 percent growth quarter over quarter from 437 million in Q3 2021 to 521 million in Q4 2021.

North America had 72 million 5G connections by the end of 2021, which is an addition of 54 million 5G connections for the year. Additionally, the region had 514 million LTE connections by the end 2021, which represents near full market maturity.

Wireless operators such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Communications are yet to reveal the number of 5G subscribers on their network. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have also never disclosed the rise in ARPU from their investment in 5G network.

Omdia’s Principal Analyst Kristin Paulin said, “During 2021 5G coverage really expanded, making 5G an option for a lot more people. The major operators in the US have more than 70 percent coverage. In Canada, 5G really expanded for the three major operators during 2021, with each ending the year with 70 percent coverage.”
Although 301 million 5G connections are expected for Latin America in the Caribbean by 2026, 4G LTE remains the dominant wireless cellular technology in the region today with 495 million connections. That represents 17 percent annual growth with the addition of 72.6 million new LTE subscriptions year over year.

Omdia expects 4G LTE growth will remain strong in Latin America and the Caribbean through 2022 with the addition of 43.2 million new 4G LTE connections, as 5G adoption begins to overtake 4G LTE.

The number of 5G commercial networks has reached 216, according to data from TeleGeography and 5G Americas. That number is expected to reach 330 by the end of 2022 and 352 by the end of 2024, representing strong 5G network investment growth in many regions throughout the world.