5G Connections to Hit 3.2B in 2026, Driven by Asia Pacific: Juniper

Juniper Research forecast Tuesday that the total number of 5G connections will hit 3.2 billion by 2026, up from 310 million this year. Juniper predicted increasing investments in stand-alone 5G networks, which “leverage next-generation technologies, such as network orchestration tools, to enable operators to monetize data‑intensive use cases, like remote healthcare and mobile gaming.” By 2026, the average revenue per 5G smartphone connection will decline to $17 worldwide, from $29 this year, “significantly impacting operator revenue,” Juniper said. The Asia Pacific region will have 60% of the 5G connections, it said: “Operators in China, Japan and South Korea have all implemented lower subscription costs, which have accelerated 5G adoption, thus enabling these subscribers to explore novel services that require 5G connectivity.”