Global 5G mobile subscriptions passed the three billion mark during the first quarter of 2026; 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing commercial offerings from communications service providers continue to grow significantly; while uplink mobile data traffic growth is already outpacing downlink for many service providers. All this and more features in the June 2026 edition of the Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) Mobility Report (EMR).

The June 2026 report covers the same period (2025-2031) as the November 2025 edition, with updated statistics and forecasts.

The 162 million new 5G subscriptions added globally during the first quarter of 2026 brought the total past the three billion mark, to 3.1 billion subscriptions. This figure is expected to grow rapidly and is forecast to more than double (to 6.4 billion) by the end of 2031. In 2031, 5G subscriptions in Southeast Asia and Oceania region are forecast to reach around 670 million, with more than 50 percent 5G subscription penetration.

Some 390 service providers have launched commercial 5G services to date – more than 90 of which have launched 5G Standalone (SA). 5G networks handled 48 percent of all mobile data traffic at the end of 2025 – a figure expected to rise to 85 percent by the end of 2031. Western Europe, North America, Northeast Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are forecast to have 5G mobile subscription adoption close to, or above, 90 percent by the end of 2031. 

There are 33 million 5G subscriptions in Thailand at the end of 2025, contributing 36% of the total mobile subscriptions. 5G subscriptions in Thailand are projected to grow to 93 Million, contributing 92 per cent of the total mobile subscriptions in Thailand by 2031.  

“Thailand is entering a new phase of data consumption, driven by AI applications, real-time collaboration, and user-generated content, which are accelerating the shift toward more uplink-intensive traffic patterns. As highlighted in the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, this fundamental change means networks must evolve from best-effort connectivity into intelligent infrastructure capable of supporting continuous, high-performance data flows,” says Anders Rian, Head of Ericsson Thailand.

“To support this transformation, it is essential to continue investing in high-quality mid-band spectrum, particularly in the 3.5 GHz range, alongside accelerating 5G Standalone deployment. These capabilities enable differentiated connectivity through network slicing, allowing operators to deliver guaranteed performance for specific applications and unlock new opportunities across both consumer and enterprise segments in Thailand’s AI-driven economy,” Anders added.

The number of commercial differentiated connectivity service offerings based on 5G SA network slicing from service providers – with the ability to deliver guaranteed quality of service for use cases through securing slices of the network – continues to grow at pace globally. The total increased from 65 in the November 2025 EMR report to 84 across all regions in the new June edition – indicating that services based on differentiated connectivity are moving from early adoption to mainstream commercialization.

“With the upcoming transition to physical AI, traffic patterns will fundamentally shift as we move from centralized models in data centers to distributed, autonomous AI agents embedded across our device vehicles and cities, commonly connected by 5G,” Erik Ekudden, EMR publisher and CTO, Ericsson, says. “Mobile networks are no longer only about providing best-effort connectivity, they are becoming critical, intelligent infrastructure that meets diverse application needs. Reflecting part of this shift is the continued rise in new commercial service offerings based on 5G standalone network slicing and the number of communications service providers deploying 5G SA.”

“We are at an inflection point, where 5G and the ecosystem are set to unleash the next wave of innovation in the country. 5G Standalone and AI-driven automation will serve as the foundation for enterprise digitalization in Thailand” says Anders Rian.

Uplink traffic is growing faster than downlink for most service providers – in some instances, significantly faster. The main current drivers are smartphone communication and collaboration apps, the sharing of user-generated content, and cloud storage.

Based on network traffic measurements conducted by Ericsson 43 out of 55 service providers experienced a higher uplink growth rate than downlink; 17 out of 55 service providers experienced more than 1.5 times higher uplink growth rate than downlink. Ericsson scenario modeling suggests additional AI traffic could result in uplink traffic being three times higher or more in 2031 compared to 2025.

Network data traffic (for both mobile and FWA) grew 22 percent year-on-year for the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 – exceeding expectations. This was driven mainly by continued strong growth in India and North America

The report also reflects the increasing industry focus on 6G – with standardization discussions underway. Early expectations include full support for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC); seamless integration between terrestrial and satellite networks to reduce coverage gaps; and a strong focus on energy efficiency – all driven by AI-native 6G.

The first implementable 6G specifications are expected to be finalized by the end of 2028 or early 2029. The first commercial 6G services are expected to follow around 2030, with varying subsequent uptake between regions and countries. As with 5G launches, the US, China, Japan, South Korea and the GCC countries are expected to be early adopters. 

Download the full Ericsson Mobility Report June 2026 via this link