Skip to content
Telecom

5G Connections In APAC To Reach 400 Million In 2025

By Wei Zhang
1 min read
5G
5G
In this article (5)

A study published by a global organization of telecom operators suggests that in the next three years, 5G connections in Asia Pacific will soar to 400 million, four times higher than this year’s level.

In its “Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2022”, GSMA also indicated that the regional mobile network coverage today has reached 96% of the population. Of this, 1.2 billion users now have access to mobile internet services. This shows a penetration rate of just below 45% of the population. And among the reasons for this usage gap are the digital divide, the income gap and online safety issues.

It meanwhile predicts a continuous acceleration of 5G’s momentum across the region as commercial 5G services are now accessible across 14 markets. This is due to the economic improvement following pandemic lows, as well as the increasing sales in 5G handsets and overall marketing efforts. Commercial 5G services are also expected to expand to other markets, including India and Vietnam in the coming years.

The study also shows that the mobile ecosystem continues to propel the regional economy, as technologies and services brought in 5% of GDP, which is tantamount to 770 billion dollars of economic value added. The industry also supported nearly 8.8 million jobs in 2021, and enabled financial contributions to the public sector.

According to the study, “The mobile industry continues to deliver social impact across Asia Pacific, primarily by providing the connectivity that enables the growth of small businesses and digital transformation of enterprises, and granting access to life-enhancing services and tools for citizens.”

And amid the continuous deployments of 5G networks, the technology’s ability to empower next-generation offerings—cloud services, artificial intelligence, internet of things and edge computing—will boost digital economic development and innovation.

Questions & Answers

Q.

What proportion of the population in Asia Pacific currently has access to mobile internet services?

A.

Currently, 1.2 billion users in the Asia Pacific region have access to mobile internet services. This indicates a penetration rate of just under 45% of the total population in the area.

Q.

What factors are driving the expected increase in 5G connections across the Asia Pacific region?

A.

The acceleration of 5G's momentum is attributed to economic improvement after pandemic lows, alongside rising sales of 5G handsets. Increased marketing efforts also contribute to this expected growth across the region.

Q.

How much economic value did the mobile ecosystem add to the Asia Pacific region's GDP?

A.

The mobile ecosystem contributed 5% to the regional GDP, which translates to 770 billion dollars of economic value added. This highlights its significant impact on the economy.

Q.

What are some of the reasons for the usage gap in mobile internet services within the region?

A.

The article identifies several reasons for the usage gap in mobile internet services. These include the digital divide, the income gap among the population, and concerns surrounding online safety issues.

Reader pulse

Will 5G significantly impact your retail strategy?

22,672 votes so far

Weekly Briefing

Asia's retail intelligence, in your inbox

Monday, Wednesday and a Friday Weekly Wrap: the retail stories, numbers and moves that mattered across Asia. Nothing else, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

  • Top industry moves and market shifts
  • Weekly data-driven analysis from across Asia
  • Monday, Wednesday and the Friday Weekly Wrap

Read by retail operators, investors and brand teams across Asia.

Protected by a quick human check. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe in one click.

SecureGDPR ready