China, the US, Japan and South Korea will dominate the 5G era with their users accounting for over half of the global total and Europe will be left far behind, according to a report released by the GSMA, an organization that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.

(File photo: VCG)

The report said there will be 1.57 billion registers to 5G by 2025 globally, 18% of overall mobile phone users. China will take the lead with 600 million 5G connections.

Europe, whose building of 5G networks remains slow, has seen its consumers lagging in the recognition of this super-fast network service. However, the technology is receiving growing popularity in the business community as it could be used to run ‘smart’ factories with connected robots, devices and detectors.

The report also indicated that carriers could raise 5G network prices by 15%-20%. But, if the past is anything to go by, those gains will be sapped away by market competition.

(Compiled by Shen Feng)