The New Record of Worldwide 5G Expansion: Explained

The global telecommunications industry entered a new phase when 5G networks were introduced, now accelerating connectivity worldwide.

Five years after the first commercial deployments by carriers such as Verizon and T-Mobile in the US and SK Telecom in South Korea, 5G technology has become a cornerstone of modern communications.

It’s crucially evolved as network operators have faced increasing pressure to monetise their multi-billion dollar investments in spectrum and infrastructure, while simultaneously preparing for future technologies.

Now, according to 5G Americas and Omdia, the global wireless telco industry reached a milestone in 2024, with 5G connections totalling 2.25 billion worldwide.

This growth shows 5G's adoption rate, which is four times faster than 4G LTE (a transitional step between 3G and true 4G capabilities), at a comparable stage, when LTE had reached 500 million connections at the end of 2014.

5G’s expansion across the world

The global mobile ecosystem now supports 1.5 wireless connections per person worldwide, an increase from one connection per person in 2014, according to data from 5G Americas and Omdia.

Forecasts indicate the expansion will continue, with projections of 8.3 billion 5G connections by 2029, representing 59% of all global wireless technologies.

“Reaching 2.25 billion 5G connections globally is a powerful indicator of how rapidly this technology is transforming the world – but it's also a reminder of North America's leadership in shaping that future,” says Viet Nguyen, President of 5G Americas.

“With 5G now reaching 77% of our population, the region continues to set the pace for innovation, network deployment and advanced use cases.”

North America maintains 5G leadership position with network parity

North America maintains its position as a global leader in 5G adoption, ending 2024 with 289 million 5G connections – a 67% increase from 196 million connections at the end of 2023.

, the region has achieved 77% population coverage with 5G networks.

In comparison, 4G LTE adoption in North America had reached 47% regional coverage at the equivalent point in 2014.

As of March 2025, 5G Americas reports the number of 5G and 4G LTE network deployments are:

5G:

• Global: 354
• North America: 18
• Latin America and Caribbean: 53

4G LTE:

• Global: 706
• North America: 18
• Latin America and Caribbean: 134

Furthermore, North America has become the first region worldwide to reach parity between the number of commercial 5G and 4G LTE networks, with 18 networks of each type now operating – reflecting the maturity and pace of next-generation network deployment in the region.

“North America continues to showcase rapid 5G growth, outpacing previous generations and setting the benchmark for global adoption,” says Kristin Paulin, Principal Analyst at Omdia.

Europe follows North America in network deployment progress, with 5G deployments reaching 72% of LTE networks in the region – as European carriers such as Vodafone, Orange and Deutsche Telekom have focused on industrial applications and private networks as key differentiation strategies.

Latin American doubles connections as IoT market expands

Telco operators including América Móvil, Telefónica and TIM Brasil have accelerated their 5G deployments, particularly in urban centres across Mexico, Brazil and Chile.

Now, Latin America has also experienced a significant increase in 5G adoption, doubling its connections in one year to 76 million by the end of 2024, up from 38.5 million in 2023.

However, regulatory challenges and spectrum allocation issues continue to hamper rollout in some markets.

Despite this growth, 4G LTE remains the dominant technology in Latin America, with 593 million users accounting for 74% of all wireless connections in the region.

The number of 4G LTE networks in Latin America and the Caribbean now stands at 134, compared to 53 5G networks.

Yet, the Internet of Things (IoT) – has seen unprecedented expansion, adding 438 million new connections in 2024 – bringing the global total to 3.6 billion IoT connections.

Now, the pace of 5G network deployments continues to exceed that of 4G LTE – and as of 17 March 2025, there are 354 commercial 5G networks globally, compared to 706 4G LTE networks.

“This momentum speaks to the strength of our ecosystem – industry collaboration, investment, and forward-looking policy – all working together to make next-generation connectivity a reality,” Viet says.

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