5G Ecosystem – March
While smartphone shipments are mired in component shortages, logistical challenges, and increased silicon costs, 5G continues to grow, with all key metrics showing growth in March. 5G device growth was up 3.3% m/m (89.8% y/y), 5G form factors (the number of 5G device types) grew 4.3% m/m (9.1% y/y), and the number of 5G vendors (brands carrying 5G product) grew 2.7% (56.6% y/y) during the month, all staying above trend lines. The number of 5G smartphones grew 5.3% m/m (92.9% y/y) after a slow February during the Chinese New Year holiday, and CPE devices grew 1.4% m/m (61.4% y/y).
5G smartphone m/m growth seems to have settled into a ` 4% to 5% monthly increase level, which is consistent with the limited 5G monthly data we have already accumulated, and sub- 6 bands on a global basis seem to be the spectrum of choice for at least over 50% of 5G smartphones[1]. Typically, and again this only includes two years of data (3 starting in May) April should see higher 5G smartphone growth, although we expect much of that to be tempered by weakness in China due to COVID-19 lockdowns. All in, despite the broad slowdown in smartphone sales, 5G continues to grow both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of smartphone sales.
[1] This includes only those 5G smartphones that we know are sub-6. Mm-wave and those that do not specify are considered non-sub-6, which means the number for sub-6 is likely higher.
5G smartphone m/m growth seems to have settled into a ` 4% to 5% monthly increase level, which is consistent with the limited 5G monthly data we have already accumulated, and sub- 6 bands on a global basis seem to be the spectrum of choice for at least over 50% of 5G smartphones[1]. Typically, and again this only includes two years of data (3 starting in May) April should see higher 5G smartphone growth, although we expect much of that to be tempered by weakness in China due to COVID-19 lockdowns. All in, despite the broad slowdown in smartphone sales, 5G continues to grow both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of smartphone sales.
[1] This includes only those 5G smartphones that we know are sub-6. Mm-wave and those that do not specify are considered non-sub-6, which means the number for sub-6 is likely higher.
5G Ecosystem - Primary Indicators - Source: SCMR LLC, GSA.com
Selected 5G Devices - Device Offerings - Source: SCMR LLC, GMSA
- 5G Smartphone Unit Volume & BOM - Source: SCMR LLC, GSA.com
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