Global 5G subscriptions surpass 3 billion - Milliyet

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Global 5G subscriptions surpassed the 3 billion mark during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the continued expansion of next-generation mobile networks, according to Ericsson's June 2026 Mobility Report.

The report said the number of 5G subscriptions increased by 162 million during the quarter, reaching a major milestone in the global rollout of the technology. Ericsson forecasts that the total will more than double to 6.4 billion by the end of 2031.

Around 390 telecommunications providers have now launched commercial 5G services worldwide, with more than 90 already offering standalone 5G (5G SA) networks. Unlike non-standalone deployments, 5G SA networks are designed to unlock the full capabilities of the technology, including lower latency, higher reliability and advanced enterprise applications.

Ericsson expects 5G penetration to exceed 90% by the end of 2031 in Western Europe, North America, Northeast Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, making the technology the dominant mobile standard across those regions.

The report also highlighted growing adoption of network slicing, a feature enabled by standalone 5G that allows operators to create dedicated virtual network segments with guaranteed service quality for different users and applications.

According to Ericsson, the number of commercially available differentiated connectivity services based on network slicing has risen from 65 in its November 2025 report to 84 in the latest edition, indicating that the technology is moving beyond the early adoption phase and becoming part of mainstream commercial deployment.