According to an Ericsson mobility report released last November, mobile subscriptions in South East Asia have exceeded 1.1 billion. Photo Credit: gettyimagess/metamorworks
The pandemic highlighted the extent to which both businesses and
consumers rely on digital infrastructure, with 5G developments helping
to make many digital applications a reality.
An Ericsson mobility report, released in November 2021, predicted
that by the end of 2027, 5G subscriptions are expected to reach 4.4
billion, with North East Asia currently having the highest 5G
subscription penetration levels. The report says that as 5G population
coverage increases, "we could expect some new disruptive events, maybe
in the mid-2020s, that take advantage of 5G capabilities in totally new
ways, be it with new devices, business models or applications".
Within Asia, China and South Korea are seen as leading 5G markets,
while in South East Asia, the Ericsson report says mobile subscriptions
in the region have exceeded 1.1 billion. A further report from the GSM
Association, which represents the interests of mobile network operators
worldwide, titled The Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2021, says mobile has
been particularly instrumental during Covid-19 and will be even more
integral to the way people live and how businesses operate
post-pandemic.
The report also shows subscriber growth continuing, driven by South
Asia (it does not include figures for Greater China, including mainland
China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, which are covered in a separate
report). It says a usage gap continues to persist in Asia Pacific, as
half of the population live in areas covered by mobile broadband
networks but do not yet use mobile internet services. Key barriers to
mobile internet adoption include affordability, knowledge and digital
skills, relevance, safety and access.
There are numerous telecoms events taking place across Asia Pacific
in the months to come, including the Asia Pacific Telecoms Summit 2022, a
virtual event taking place on 28 April, which brings together industry
leaders from across South East Asia, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Telecoms World Asia returns to Bangkok as a physical event, on 2-3
November at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at
CentaraWorld. Topics up for discussion include ‘intelligent
connectivity’, ‘Cloud and The Edge’ and ‘Digital Connectivity’.
MWC Shanghai meanwhile, to be hosted from 29 June to 1 July at
Shanghai New International Expo Centre, will cover themes such as 5G,
AI’s use of data, the potential of the cloud and the ‘Internet of
Everything’.