Market Trends of 5G Devices Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the 5G Devices Market according to our research experts:
Smartphone Segment is Expected to Witness the Highest Growth
- According to the Ericsson Mobility Report 2021, around 650 new 5G smartphones have been launched globally, accounting for 50% of all the 5G from all form factors. The handheld wireless form factor and convenience of 5G access offered by smartphones are nearly unmatched. As several parts of the world have already begun rolling out 5G, some untouched regions are preparing to receive 5G-enabled smartphone launches to leverage the upcoming 5G launch.
- The increasing technological advancements and growing demand for ultra-high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and massive connectivity are expected to offer growth opportunities to the market. Moreover, the rising demand for high-speed data connectivity for integrated IoT (Internet of Things) applications, such as energy management and smart home products, is anticipated to propel the adoption of 5G smartphones over the forecast period.
- Several smartphone manufacturers adapt and plan strategic launches according to the local market responses to compete in the highly competitive landscapes. In August last year, Samsung shared plans to launch more smartphones in the Indian market after recording sales of INR 600 crore in less than 12 hours for its new generation 5G-enabled foldable devices. The company would launch the devices ahead of the 5G roll-out in India in the previous year.
- Further, the market players focus on providing customers with a high-end 5G smartphone experience. For instance, in May last year, Qualcomm launched Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, with clock speeds up to 3.2 GHz for major smartphone implementation. The processor features the fourth-generation Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System, bringing 5G speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
- Such developments attract buyers to upgrade their non-5G smartphones to get the latest and fastest, all-around experience in their smartphone, driving the 5G smartphone market.
North America Expected to Hold a Significant Share
- Service providers in the region have already launched commercial 5G services focused on mobile broadband. The introduction of 5G devices that support all three spectrum bands will enable early adoption of the technology in the region. As of now, 5G services are integrated with 4G services or with hand-off from 5G to 4G when a customer moves from an area where 5G service is available to one where it is not.
- According to the Ericson Mobility Report 2021, around 64 million 5G subscriptions were added in 2021 as migration from 4G to 5G subscriptions picked up significantly. The number of 5G subscriptions is expected to reach 250 million at the end of the current year and 400 million by 2027, accounting for 90 percent of mobile subscriptions.
- Similarly, the report also mentioned North America registering the strongest increase in the number of fixed wireless access (FWA), with about 60% of all service providers surveyed offering FWA. Such regional launches boost the infrastructural support for the 5G roll-out, reaching maximum areas in North America for new users.
- Multiple product launches have enabled 5G connectivity across the region recently. In September last year, Nokia announced extending its Industrial portfolio of user equipment to facilitate private wireless network connectivity in North America. Its new Nokia 5G Industrial fieldrouter and dongle, radio access spectrum capabilities, and Nokia Connectivity Operations Dashboard would provide more options for deploying and managing secure, reliable private 4G/LTE and 5G wireless. The Nokia 5G fieldrouter and 5G dongle could be deployed in the US and Canada Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) 3.5 GHz spectrum.