Ericsson revises forecast for 5G subscriptions to 2.8 bn

Telecom equipment maker Ericsson said it will lift its forecast for 5G subscriptions to around 2.8 billion by 2025 from 2.6 billion seen previously as a consequence of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The telecoms sector has been among few industries to experience a surge in demand despite the economic uncertainty linked to the pandemic, a result of more people work remotely from home to avoid contagion and adhere to lockdown rules.

Ericsson said the 2020 forecast would also be raised. “Long-term we look at 2025, 2.8 billion 5G subscriptions,” Patrik Cerwall, head of strategic marketing at Ericsson, said during a web seminar held by the company.

Sweden-based Ericsson is competing against Finland-based Nokia and China’s Huawei Technologies to sign up telecoms customers looking to upgrade their networks to 5G, Reuters reported.

The firm, due to publish its biannual Mobility Report next month, said in November 5G uptake was expected to be significantly faster than that of LTE, and that 5G subscriptions would account for 29 percent of all mobile subscriptions in 2025.