Thursday, November 11, 2021

Device Replacement Cycle Will Affect 5G Uptake

Every next-generation mobile network requires new devices. So it is not surprising at all that consumers say they have not yet already “bought 5G.” They need to buy new phones. In fact, it would be surprising if only 35 percent of U.S. customers actually own phones that are only capable of 4G network access, at this point, as reported in a survey by Speedcheck.org


Other surveys might suggest more than 60 percent of U.S. consumers to 75 percent of customers do not yet own 5G-capable devices. But that will change over time, as people replace existing devices.  


Other obvious barriers to adoption are “no 5G service in my area.”


source: Speedcheck.org


None of those issues are terribly worrisome or even new. We are early in the deployment of full national 5G networks by all the leading service providers and the device replacement cycle takes about three years, on average (half earlier, half later). 


For many of us, battery life drives the replacement cycle, and that is closer to two years. At least one survey found that battery life is more important than 5G, for example. 

Still, 5G is inevitable. Most consumers will switch.

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