Ericsson Mobility Report: differentiated connectivity services gaining momentum
Rhea-AI Summary
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) released the November 2025 Mobility Report forecasting mobile and fixed wireless trends through 2031. Key findings include 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions by end-2031 (about two-thirds of mobile subscriptions), 4.1 billion 5G SA subscriptions, and 1.4 billion people accessing FWA broadband by 2031 (90% via 5G). The report documents 65 commercial network-slicing offerings from 33 CSPs and notes >90 CSPs have launched 5G SA. It also forecasts 180 million 6G subscriptions by 2031 and projects continued data growth, with mobile data traffic rising at a 16% CAGR to 2031.
Positive
- 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions forecast by end-2031
- 4.1 billion 5G Standalone subscriptions by 2031 (≈65% of 5G)
- 1.4 billion people expected to use FWA broadband by 2031 (90% via 5G)
- 65 commercial network-slicing offerings across 33 CSPs
- > 90 CSPs have launched or soft-launched 5G Standalone networks
Negative
- Commercial 6G uptake limited to 180 million subscriptions by 2031
- Europe expected ≈1 year later 6G launches versus front-runner markets due to later 5G SA deployments
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, ERIC declined 0.32%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
- 33 CSPs currently offer differentiated connectivity services based on network slicing - with a combined total of 65 offerings
- New report period forecasts 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031 - comprising two-thirds of all mobile subscriptions at the time
- About 1.4 billion people expected to be served by FWA broadband by the end of 2031 - 90 percent via 5G
More than 90 CSPs have now launched/soft-launched 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks - an increase of about 30 CSPs from the same period last year and 20 from the June 2025 EMR report.
EMR researchers identified 118 cases - across 56 CSPs - where network slicing is used to provide differentiated connectivity services.
Of the 118 cases - 65 have moved beyond proof of concept and into commercial services, across 33 CSPs. These are either subscription services or add-on packages for consumer or enterprise customers.
Twenty-one of the 65 commercial offerings - almost one third - were launched during 2025 alone.
"We see that service providers around the world are keen to embrace and deploy 5G SA to offer differentiated connectivity based on value services and not just data volume packages," EMR publisher and Ericsson CTO, Erik Ekudden, says. "As reflected in the case studies in this EMR edition, 5G SA is already enabling differentiated connectivity opportunities. We've seen many service providers go from proof-of-concept to commercial deployment in 2025 alone, and we expect to see that trend continuing."
The November 2025 EMR covers a new forecast timeframe, from 2025 through the end of 2031.
The new reporting EMR period also covers the first expected deployments of commercial 6G. Based on previous mobile generation cycles' subscriptions uptake, EMR researchers expect the first commercial launches to be driven by leading service providers in front-runner markets - such as the
Global 6G subscriptions are forecast to reach 180 million by the end of 2031, not including the early uptake of AI-enabled Internet of Things devices. The subscription uptake number could increase significantly if 6G launches earlier than previous cycles indicate.
Commercial 6G is expected to launch about a year later in
As an ongoing major 5G use case, enhanced mobile broadband is forecast to top 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031, comprising about two-thirds of all mobile subscriptions at the time. Some 4.1 billion of these subscriptions - about 65 percent - are forecast to be 5G SA.
In 2025 alone, 5G subscriptions are expected to top 2.9 billion by the end of the year - equating to about one third of all current mobile subscriptions - an increase of some 600 million subscriptions year-on-year.
In geographical coverage terms, 2025 saw an increase of 400 million people worldwide being able to access 5G. About 50 percent of the global population beyond mainland
Mobile network data traffic grew 20 percent between the third quarter of 2024 and the corresponding period in 2025 - a slightly larger than expected increase, driven by mainland
5G networks are expected to manage 43 percent of all mobile data by the close of 2025 - up from 34 percent for the corresponding period last year. EMR experts forecast this to increase to 83 percent in 2031.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband continues to grow as a 5G use case. The November 2025 EMR forecasts that about 1.4 billion people globally are expected to access FWA broadband by the end of 2031 - 90 percent via 5G.
EMR researchers have identified 159 providers that currently offer FWA services via 5G - amounting to approximately 65 percent of all FWA service providers. The number of service providers offering speed-based tariffs - a common monetization model for fixed broadband via fiber or cable - increased from 43 percent to 54 percent since the November 2024 EMR.
The 36-page November 2025 EMR includes three co-written use-case articles:
- Singtel: 5G SA providing tailored experiences
- Softbank: modernizing enterprise IT with 5G
- SailGP: enhancing operations and viewer experiences with 5G
Ericsson will host related Ericsson Mobility Report online seminars at 09.00 (CET) and at 18.00 (CET) today, Thursday November 20 . To join please register via this link.
Read the full November 2025 Ericsson Mobility Report via this link.
Based on unique Ericsson and partner network insights, the Ericsson Mobility Report has been the key industry reference for network data, performance, statistics, and forecasts since its launch in 2011.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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Ericsson's high-performing, programmable networks provide connectivity for billions of people every day. For nearly 150 years, we've been pioneers in creating technology for communication. We offer mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises. Together with our customers and partners, we make the digital world of tomorrow a reality. www.ericsson.com
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Ericsson Mobility Report (EMR) November 2025 report cover |
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SOURCE Ericsson
FAQ
How many 5G subscriptions does ERIC forecast by the end of 2031?
What does the report say about 5G Standalone (5G SA) adoption for ERIC?
How many commercial network-slicing services does ERIC report for ERIC (ERIC)?
What are the Ericsson Mobility Report projections for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) by 2031?
When does the report expect commercial 6G subscriptions to begin and how large by 2031?
