5G has moved from a promise of faster connections and new digital experiences to the dominant mobile communications technology worldwide. As the industry prepares for the next generation of networks, Greece has made significant progress in 5G adoption and now has the infrastructure to begin preparing for the transition to 6G.
The Ericsson Mobility Report 2026 captures the scale of this transformation, describing a rapidly maturing market entering a new cycle of technological development in which connectivity, cloud computing and artificial intelligence increasingly operate as a single ecosystem.
The global figures highlight the pace of change. More than 3 billion 5G subscriptions, 210 exabytes of monthly mobile data traffic and approximately 400 million people gaining access to fifth-generation networks within a year demonstrate the continuing expansion of 5G. The technology now carries around half of global mobile data traffic, while artificial intelligence is beginning to influence the design of devices and networks and preparations for 6G are already underway.
Global 5G subscriptions surpass 3 billion
Global 5G subscriptions exceeded 3 billion for the first time during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 3.1 billion after operators added 162 million subscriptions in just three months.
Around 660 million new 5G subscriptions were added during 2025, confirming fifth-generation mobile communications as the industry’s dominant technology.
North America leads the global market, with 79% of mobile subscriptions already using 5G. Northeast Asia follows at 60%, Western Europe at 54% and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at 53%.
Ericsson forecasts that global 5G subscriptions will reach 6.4 billion by the end of 2031, representing around two-thirds of all mobile subscriptions worldwide.
Greece makes significant 5G progress
The transformation extends beyond the world’s largest markets. Greece has moved rapidly in adopting new network technologies and has achieved high levels of 5G population coverage across the country.
George Pappas, head of Ericsson Greece, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that Greece has made “significant progress” with the arrival of 5G and has already achieved high population coverage nationwide.
He also noted that Greece is one of the few European countries where all mobile operators have announced commercial availability of 5G Stand Alone (5G SA) networks.
Pappas said Ericsson, as a leading 5G and 5G SA supplier in Greece, was proud to have contributed to the country’s progress in digital transformation.
He stressed, however, that Greece must build on this position rather than become complacent.
5G SA allows operators to use existing network infrastructure for multiple applications, ranging from traditional mobile broadband services to industrial applications and services supporting critical national infrastructure.
4G and older networks gradually disappear
The expansion of 5G is also accelerating the retirement of older technologies.
Global 4G subscriptions fell by 77 million during the first quarter of 2026 alone, while operators continued to shut down second- and third-generation networks.
By the end of 2025, 80 operators had completely shut down their 3G networks, while 46 had closed their 2G networks.
AI changes the demands placed on mobile networks
One of the report’s most significant findings concerns the growing influence of artificial intelligence on device design.
The smart glasses market remains at an early stage but is expanding rapidly. Global shipments reached approximately 10 million units in 2025, and analysts expect continued growth in the coming years.
Smart glasses could become an important driver of 5G and eventually 6G network usage because they require continuous connectivity, high speeds and increased data-processing capabilities.
Pappas said AI is already changing the demands placed on telecommunications networks.
AI applications are increasing the need to send more data from the surrounding environment to the network, particularly through the uplink between devices and base stations. At the same time, devices such as smart glasses, drones and humanoid robots are creating requirements that differ from those of traditional consumer services.
These applications require connectivity with high performance, security and reliability.
Greece’s existing 5G SA infrastructure provides a foundation for this new generation of services. Pappas said operators now need to exploit the available tools to deliver large-scale, dynamic, on-demand services through open and programmable networks.
Network APIs will also allow application developers to gain controlled access to advanced network capabilities, helping move the industry from traditional service models toward dynamic, on-demand experiences.
IoT and RedCap expand the 5G ecosystem
The report also highlights the development of RedCap, a technology designed for lower-cost and lower-power Internet of Things applications.
RedCap has already begun gaining traction in industrial applications and could acquire greater commercial importance by 2028.
The broader Internet of Things ecosystem is also expanding rapidly. Cellular IoT connections reached approximately 4.5 billion at the end of 2025, with Ericsson forecasting almost 8 billion by the end of 2031.
Across the entire IoT ecosystem, global connections are expected to rise from 22.3 billion in 2025 to 47.1 billion in 2031.
Meanwhile, mobile data traffic continues to grow faster than previously forecast. Traffic increased by 22% between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, reaching 210 exabytes per month worldwide.
Video remains the dominant source of mobile data traffic, accounting for approximately 75% of total mobile network usage.
5G coverage continues to expand worldwide
Approximately 400 million people gained access to 5G networks during 2025.
Global population coverage reached 60%, while coverage outside mainland China reached 50%. Ericsson expects 5G coverage outside China to rise from 50% today to 85% by 2031.
Significant regional differences remain. North America and India are moving toward coverage levels of around 95%, while Africa continues to lag considerably behind.
6G preparations are already underway
Although 5G remains in a period of rapid expansion, the telecommunications industry has already turned its attention to the next generation.
International 6G standardisation processes have begun, with the first technical specifications expected by the end of 2028 or early 2029. The first commercial services could emerge around 2030.
6G is expected to integrate artificial intelligence capabilities natively, introduce advanced sensing functions, establish closer links between terrestrial and satellite networks and create new business models supporting applications such as digital twins, autonomous mobility and extended reality.
Greece faces a new technological challenge
For Greece to play an active role in the transition to 6G, coordinated action will be required across several areas.
Pappas said successful 6G deployment would depend on several factors, including the availability of spectrum, continued investment by telecommunications operators and the development and commercialisation of innovative applications.
Greece’s rapid and successful allocation of 5G spectrum provides a model that could support the allocation of new frequencies for sixth-generation networks.
Operators will also need to continue investing in infrastructure while encouraging experimentation and commercial adoption of innovative applications that exploit the capabilities of 5G and, eventually, 6G.
Pappas also stressed the importance of government support for universities, start-ups and companies investing in innovation. Such support could accelerate the development of 6G-compatible applications in Greece and help generate the consumer demand needed for the technology’s commercial success.
From connectivity to an integrated digital ecosystem
The central message of the Ericsson Mobility Report 2026 is that the future of mobile networks will involve far more than faster speeds and greater capacity.
The coming decade will depend on how networks, devices and artificial intelligence work together to create the infrastructure for a new generation of digital services, industrial applications and business models.
For Greece, the investments being made today in 5G and related infrastructure will therefore shape not only the country’s current communications capabilities but also the technological ecosystem that will support its economy and society throughout the next decade.
