The June 2022 Ericsson Mobility Report predicted that more people will enjoy 4G services in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries in 2022.
This, according to The PUNCH, is as 4G subscriptions grew by 26 per cent in the region in 2021 and this growth is expected in 2022.
The report added that investment in telecom infrastructure was increased in 2020 – 2021 in the wake of COVID-19.
It said, “Demand for mobile voice and data services continues to grow in the region. Investment in telecom infrastructure accelerated during 2020–2021 in the wake of COVID-19, including mobile coverage and fixed wireless access build-out, enabling service providers to address additional subscriber segments with mobile broadband.
“In 2021, the number of 4G subscriptions grew by 26 per cent, and strong growth is expected to continue during 2022. Migration towards 4G devices continues to be an important driver for 4G subscription uptake, which in turn drives the growth of mobile data traffic. 3G mobile data traffic is still increasing, but the majority of traffic growth is expected to be in 4G.
“Over the forecast period, total mobile broadband subscriptions are predicted to increase, reaching 78 percent of mobile subscriptions.”
The report stated that regulatory initiatives were being taken to make more spectrum available in key markets across Africa and this would enable access to mobile services for more people, especially in rural areas.
According to the report, 5G subscriptions grew by 70 million in the first quarter of the year to 620 million globally and will surpass one billion subscriptions by the end of 2022.
It added that North America and North-East Asia have the highest 5G subscription penetration, followed by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and Western Europe. It said 5G penetration is expected to reach 4.4 billion in 2027.
The Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson, Fredrik Jejdling, said, “Resilient networks are the foundation for continued digitalization of societies and industries.
“Continuous network modernization and coverage build-out has led to several hundred million people becoming new mobile broadband subscribers every year. 5G is scaling faster than any previous mobile generation and we expect 5G subscriptions to reach one billion by the end of 2022.
“In several regions, deployment of 5G standalone networks is also picking up pace, as communications service providers prepare for innovation to address the business opportunities beyond enhanced mobile broadband. “
A solid digital network infrastructure underpins enterprises’ digital transformation plans, and their new capabilities can be turned into new customer services.”
He stated that global mobile network data traffic has doubled in the last two years, as a result of growth in smartphone usage, mobile broadband, and the digitalisation of societies and industries.
He added that 5G technologies play a key role in modernisation and providing multiples of capacity while becoming more energy efficient.
The report revealed that there were about 8.2 billion mobile subscriptions by 2021 and would reach 9.1 billion by the end of 2027. It added that the number of unique mobile subscribers is estimated to grow from 6.1 billion as of 2021 to 6.7 billion by the end of 2022.