5G deployments have started gaining pace around the world. While there is a lot of noise, there is quite a bit of progress with real network launches, handset introductions, consumer adoption, new applications and services. Chetan Sharma Consulting started Global 5G Update research service to help executives make informed, strategic and business decisions, to understand the trends and how they might shape their product roadmaps. There are five countries leading the way – China, Korea, India, Japan, and the US. 5G is a unique cycle. Operators need to be really strategic about how they deploy CAPEX and plan new revenue generation 4th Wave strategies. The structure of the wireless industry is likely to look quite different coming out of the 5G cycle than going in. There are early indications of how this might pan out but operators, regulators, and the encompassing ecosystem needs to adjust to the new realities, fast.
The global 5G subscriber base crossed 2.18 Billion in Q2 2025 which is still at a 2x faster pace compared to 4G global adoption. During Q2 2025, the global subscriber base for 5G slowed down to 6% with China accounting for over 53% of the global subscriber base. US, China, South Korea, India, and Japan are the top five nations in 5G revenues. On a global basis, operators are close to the $125B mark in 5G revenues. Globally, China Mobile has the greatest number of 5G global subs, also crossing the 1 Billion mark in overall subs thus becoming the first and probably the only operator to so. Korea, US, China, and Japan are all over 50% penetration. Postpaid 5G penetration in the US is over 80%. In Korea, 5G growth has slowed down. China’s data consumption is flat to declining. US is also starting to see signs of saturation. India is growing at the fastest rate having crossed US to become number 2 in 5G subs. Jio continues to be the number one operator by mobile data traffic thanks to the 5G surge. Jio also became the largest FWA service provider surpassing T-Mobile US. In fact, the top two Indian operators have been on the rise are now amongst the only 7 operators with valuation over $100 Billion. US has three in this exclusive club, Europe and China one each. India also has the highest percentage ARPU jump in the 5G era. Hundreds of 5G handsets are entering into the ecosystem. However, the real competition will be in the new billion-dollar revenue streams that get created. For ecosystem players who seek to develop a platform based on 5G, the work is just starting.
Global 5G Update provides strategic insights and a snapshot of the salient points on 5G progress in Q2 2025:
- 5G in Q2 2025
–Overview
–Summary
–5G Race
–Subs and Penetration
- 5G Data Consumption
- 5G impact on ARPU
–5G Revenue
- 5G Progress
–China
–Korea
–Japan
–US
–India
–Rest of the World
