Smartphone shipments rise with 650 5G models
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
More than 615 million units of 5G devices were shipped in 2021, more than double shipments in 2020, leveraging 650 new models which account for 50 per cent of sales, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report (June 2022).
Greater adoption of smartphone and video consumption increase mobile data traffic, with 5G chalking up about 10 per cent last year; and the report expects global monthly average usage per smartphone to surpass 15GB this year.
“There is a greater focus on standalone (SA) enablement for smartphones including 3CC New Radio carrier aggregation. Global smartphone shipments rose 6 per cent in 2021 compared with 2020.
“However, additional limitations are evident in 2022 due to geopolitics, continued supply chain constraints and the COVID-19 situation in China<” the report explained.
“There is an optimistic outlook for extended reality use cases over the intermediate-term based on XR glasses, headsets or heads-up displays as peripherals connected to smartphones or other 5G smart devices.”
Devices introduced so far in 2022 have shown improve capabilities, the report said, including carrier aggregation extended from two to three NR carriers for SA, NR dual connectivity for SA, and improved uplink capabilities.
With more focus on SA and apart from improved device capabilities, a wider range of 5G smartphone models are now available in the mid-tier price segment, increasing the affordability of 5G smartphones.
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Smartphone and video drive up data traffic
Impacted by supply, inflation, and globalisation challenges, it is likely the emerging price floor of 5G devices stay at $120, the report said, per The PUNCH.
It noted that continued smartphone adoption and video consumption are driving up mobile data traffic, and 5G accounted for about 10 per cent in 2021. Global monthly average usage per smartphone is expected to surpass 15GB in 2022.
“Traffic growth can be highly volatile between years and can vary significantly between countries, depending on local market dynamics.
“Globally, the growth in mobile data traffic per smartphone can be attributed to three main drivers: improved device capabilities, an increase in data-intensive content, and growth in data consumption due to continued improvements in the performance of deployed networks.”