Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report highlights the remarkable pace of global 5G adoption, revealing that worldwide 5G subscriptions surpassed 3.1 billion during the first quarter of 2026 after adding 162 million new users. The report projects that global 5G subscriptions will exceed 6.4 billion by 2031, reflecting the continued acceleration of next-generation connectivity across consumer and enterprise markets. As mobile data demand continues to grow, 5G has become the backbone of digital transformation, with the technology already carrying nearly half of the world’s mobile data traffic by the end of 2025 and expected to account for approximately 85% of all mobile traffic by 2031.
The report also highlights the rapid evolution of 5G Standalone (SA) networks and commercial network slicing as operators move beyond basic connectivity to deliver intelligent, service-oriented network capabilities. More than 90 of the nearly 390 operators offering commercial 5G services have already deployed 5G Standalone networks, while over 80 commercial network slicing services are now available globally, representing significant year-on-year growth. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continues to emerge as a major revenue opportunity, with 83% of telecom operators now offering FWA services and an increasing number leveraging 5G to expand broadband access and unlock new business models.
Artificial intelligence is becoming one of the most transformative forces shaping the future of mobile communications. Ericsson expects AI-powered smartphones, wearable devices, smart glasses, autonomous vehicles, and extended reality applications to drive a new generation of connected experiences that demand faster, more intelligent, and lower-latency networks. As AI-generated video, sensor data, and contextual information continue to increase, the company projects that uplink traffic will triple between 2025 and 2031, requiring operators to strengthen network performance, real-time processing capabilities, and infrastructure readiness to support increasingly sophisticated AI applications.
The report further emphasizes the growing role of 5G in enterprise digital transformation. While nearly nine out of ten businesses expect their AI initiatives to depend on real-time data, only a small percentage currently have access to secure and reliable mobile connectivity capable of supporting those workloads. Ericsson believes telecommunications providers are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap by delivering resilient, AI-ready network infrastructure that enables automation, intelligent operations, mission-critical communications, and advanced enterprise services. AI-enabled network optimization is already delivering measurable improvements in throughput, spectrum efficiency, network capacity, coverage accuracy, and positioning performance across global deployments.
Looking toward the future, Ericsson expects the transition to 6G to build upon the foundation established by 5G Standalone, introducing AI-native network architectures, integrated sensing capabilities, enhanced satellite-terrestrial connectivity, and greater energy efficiency. The first implementable 6G standards are anticipated between 2028 and 2029, with commercial services expected to launch around 2030 and global subscriptions projected to reach approximately 180 million by 2031. As mobile communications continue to evolve, the report reinforces that the convergence of 5G, artificial intelligence, and future 6G technologies will play a pivotal role in powering the next generation of digital innovation, intelligent infrastructure, and connected societies worldwide.
