The telecom industry is entering an exciting new chapter as 5G and its growing ecosystem open the door to a wave of breakthrough ideas and technologies that will reshape how we live, work, and connect.
According to the June 2025 Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) Mobility Report, the 5G momentum is growing, and it is forecast that nearly one-third of all mobile users, or about 2.9 billion people, are expected to be on 5G by the end of 2025.
In South East Asia and the Oceania region, 5G subscriptions are forecast to reach around 630 million in 2030, contributing around 49 per cent of total mobile subscriptions in the region by then. Data traffic per smartphone is expected to grow from 19 GB/month in 2024 to 38 GB/month by 2030.
Subscription growth in Malaysia has been aided by 5G network expansion to rural areas, increasing availability of 5G devices, and growing consumer demand for faster and more reliable mobile connectivity.
Meanwhile, the number of 4G subscriptions continues to decline globally as subscribers migrate to 5G. 4G declined by 55 million during the first quarter of 2025, bringing the total to just below 4.9 billion.
Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh David Hägerbro, says, “DNB’s intelligent, future-proof network is the backbone of Malaysia’s 5G-driven growth and digital transformation. It is vital that the momentum continues to grow.”
“Malaysia already has a head start in becoming the leading digital economy in ASEAN and must ensure that its 5G digital infrastructure is open to an ecosystem that is conducive for global investments and innovation.”
Recent advancements in 5G standalone (SA) networks, coupled with the progress in 5G-enabled devices, have led to an ecosystem poised to unlock transformative opportunities for connected creativity.
5G networks handled 35 per cent of global mobile traffic by the end of 2024, with forecasters expecting the figure to top 80 per cent by the end of 2030.
Meanwhile, 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) globally is projected to account for more than 35 per cent of new connections, with an expected increase to 350 million by 2030, as mentioned in the FWA forecast, representing more than double the current connections.
5G FWA plays a crucial role in expanding broadband access, especially in areas where traditional wired infrastructure may be less feasible, by offering a rapid deployment advantage compared to other technologies by utilising existing mobile infrastructure, which already covers 90 per cent of the world’s population.
With 5G FWA, service providers are able to offer a range of subscriber packages with different data speeds and entertainment options – similar to cable or fibre offerings – increasing monetisation opportunities for CSPs compared to earlier generations of FWA.
According to the report, the projected increase in global fixed broadband connections reflects ongoing technological development and investment. The mix of fibre, 5G FWA and satellite technologies will be crucial in meeting the connectivity needs of an increasingly digital world as we approach 2030.
Read the full June 2025 Ericsson Mobility Report via this link.
Based on unique Ericsson and partner network insights, the Ericsson Mobility Report has been the key industry reference for network data, performance, statistics, and forecasts since its launch in 2011.
Source: Ericsson (Press Release)