Global 4G connectivity accounts for about half of all mobile connections as of 2019, with 4G subscriptions forecasted to peak at 59.22% of the total by 2023. By 2025, 1.8 billion 5G connections are expected globally, accounting for 20% of total mobile connections excluding cellular IoT. Mobile operators are forecast to invest up to $1.2 trillion in network infrastructure from 2020 to 2025, with three quarters of the investment going towards 5G networks.

1. MOBILE NETWORK
CONNECTIVITY
Figure 1: Network connection trend overview.
4G accounts for half of the mobile
connectivity and is expected to
continue domination for the next
five years.
4,073,718,644
Global 4G connection
as of 2019.
4G subscription is
forecasted to peak to
59.22% in 2023
Users will upgrade to
4G, usage of 2G and
3G will decline.
Globally, mobile operators are
forecasted to invest up to
By 2025, 1.8 BILLION 5G
CONNECTIONS WILL OCCUR
GLOBALLY, accounting 20% of total
mobile connections
(excluding cellular IoT).
5G
THREE QUARTERS
of it goes to 5G.$1.2 TRILLION
in network infrastructure between
2020 and 2025.
SUBSCRIBE
A FORECAST
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
60%
70%
80%
90%
50%
40%
30 %
20%
10%
0%
2G 3G 4G 5G © GSMA Intelligence