Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Subscriptions Surpass 3 Billion as Uplink Gains Momentum

This document is an abridged translation of a press release issued on June 16, 2026.

In Q1 2026 (January-March), 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added, bringing the total to 3.1 billion.

Commercial services offering differentiated connectivity based on 5G Standalone (5G SA) network slicing provided by communication service providers continue to grow globally.

Uplink traffic is increasing faster than downlink for many communication service providers, with some experiencing remarkably rapid growth.

Global 5G mobile subscriptions surpassed 3 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Commercial services offering differentiated connectivity based on 5G SA network slicing provided by communication service providers continue to grow significantly. Meanwhile, for many communication service providers, the growth in uplink mobile data traffic has already surpassed downlink. These points, along with much more information, are covered in the June 2026 edition of the Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) Mobility Report (EMR).

The June 2026 edition covers the same period (2025 to 2031) as the November 2025 edition, with updated statistics and forecasts.

In Q1 2026, 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally, bringing the total to over 3 billion, reaching 3.1 billion. This number is expected to continue growing rapidly, more than doubling to 6.4 billion by the end of 2031.

To date, approximately 390 communication service providers have launched commercial 5G services, with over 90 of them having introduced and deployed 5G SA. 5G networks are expected to handle 48% of all mobile data traffic by the end of 2025, a share projected to rise to 85% by the end of 2031. Western Europe, North America, Northeast Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are predicted to have 5G mobile subscription penetration rates of nearly 90% or more by the end of 2031.

The number of differentiated connectivity services, which leverage 5G SA network slicing to secure and guarantee quality of service for specific use cases, commercialized by communication service providers, continues to steadily increase. In the November 2025 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, there were 65 commercial services for differentiated connectivity; this number has now increased to 84 across all regions in the June edition, indicating a shift from early adoption to mainstream commercial services.

Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Networks and formerly Ericsson CTO, stated:

"As we approach the transition to Physical AI, traffic patterns are about to change fundamentally. This means a shift from a centralized model concentrated in data centers to a decentralized, autonomous AI agent embedded in our devices, vehicles, and cities, widely connected by 5G. Mobile networks are evolving beyond providing best-effort connectivity to become critical intelligent infrastructure that meets the needs of diverse applications. The growing number of new commercial services based on 5G SA network slicing and the increasing number of communication service providers deploying 5G SA reflect this shift."

Speed-based pricing plans for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continue to be supported by communication service providers as a monetization strategy structured to target different market segments. The proportion of communication service providers offering FWA services over 5G increased from 57% in June 2025 to 71% in 2026, marking the largest increase in four years. Currently, 57% of FWA service providers offer speed-based pricing plans, up from 51% the previous year.

This momentum is also evident in the launch of new 5G FWA services in diverse markets such as Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Morocco, Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam.

5G FWA connection penetration is most advanced in North America, Nordic countries, GCC countries, and parts of Asia.

Its appeal is broad, ranging from markets where over 95% of households are connected by fiber to low-ARPU markets like India. However, in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia, growth remains limited, despite long-term potential.

Changes in user behavior can also be observed in the network traffic statistics in the June 2026 Ericsson Mobility Report.

For most communication service providers, uplink traffic is increasing faster than downlink, with some experiencing significant growth. The primary drivers of this increase currently are smartphone communication and collaboration apps, sharing of user-generated content, and cloud storage.

Ericsson's network traffic measurements show that 43 out of 55 communication service providers experienced a higher uplink growth rate than downlink, with 17 out of 55 recording growth rates more than 1.5 times that of downlink. According to Ericsson's scenario modeling, the addition of AI traffic could potentially triple uplink traffic by 2031 compared to 2025.

Network data traffic (both mobile and FWA) increased by 22% year-on-year in Q1 2026, exceeding expectations. This was primarily driven by continued strong growth in India and North America.

The report also touches upon the growing interest in 6G within the telecommunications industry and ongoing standardization discussions. Initial expectations include full support for ISAC (Integrated Sensing And Communication), reduction of coverage gaps through seamless integration between terrestrial and satellite networks, and a focus on improved energy efficiency, all of which will be driven by AI-native 6G.

The first implementable specifications for 6G are expected to be finalized by the end of 2028 or early 2029. The first commercial 6G services are anticipated around 2030, with subsequent adoption rates varying by region and country. Early adopters are predicted to be the US, China, Japan, South Korea, and GCC countries, similar to 5G.

Deep Dive/Partner Use Case articles in the June 2026 Ericsson Mobility Report include:

Global communication service providers expand connectivity services with differentiated connectivity

Increasing uplink demand in AI-driven mobile networks

Why mobile connectivity is key to AI-driven enterprise transformation

The evolution of AI-enabled XR in mobile networks (co-authored with Qualcomm) AI is also expanding into the realm of mobile experiences, with smart glasses and other wearables emerging as new complementary user interfaces that extend digital interactions.

Successful network slicing at a major event in Japan in 2026 (co-authored with SoftBank)

The full June 2026 Ericsson Mobility Report can be accessed here.

*The above report is the English version. The Japanese version is scheduled for release on July 21.

About Ericsson Ericsson's high-performance, programmable networks enable connectivity for billions of people every day. For 150 years, Ericsson has been a pioneer in communication technology development, offering mobile communication and connectivity solutions to communication service providers and enterprises. Together with our customers and partners, Ericsson is realizing the future of the digital world. www.ericsson.com

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