77% of global operator revenue will come from 5G by 2026

According to a new Juniper Research estimate, income from 5G services would exceed $600 billion by 2026, accounting for 77% of global operator-billed revenue. Despite the semiconductor crisis created by the COVID-19 epidemic, it concluded that adoption of 5G services across consumer and IoT industries has been driven by a robust uptake of 5G-capable devices, paired with appealing 5G subscription pricing structures.

Research co-author Charles Bowman remarked: “Device vendors are capitalizing on faster networks to add mobile connectivity to new consumer devices, and operators must respond by enabling users to access 5G across multiple devices under a single subscription, allowing subscribers to conveniently manage data.”

Operator Revenue Strategies: Challenges, Opportunities, and Market Forecasts 2021-2026, a new report, advises operators to take advantage of their 5G networks and high levels of virtualization to develop new IP-based services that produce new revenue streams. Emerging 5G-based consumer devices, like as laptops and mobile routers, were identified as an important emphasis area for operators in the next years.

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Multi-device Subscriptions Key to Maximising 5G Revenue

According to the study, operators will profit from revenue streams other than smartphones as geographical 5G coverage expands. It suggests merging several device subscriptions into a single recurring payment so that operators can profit from connection income generated by other consumer devices.

Cellular Data to Grow 300% over Next Five Years

According to the analysis, the amount of cellular data generated is expected to reach 2,900 exabytes by 2026, up from 720 exabytes in 2021, according to the analysis. Over the following five years, this is a 300 percent increase. According to the report, this rise will be fueled by rising data consumption through 5G connections and a significant increase in cellular IoT devices.

Over the next five years, cellular IoT devices, such as smart city gadgets, smart home sensors, and connected agriculture, will see significant growth. The number of cellular IoT devices is expected to reach 6 billion by 2026, surpassing the global number of smartphones for the first time.