5G report card: consumers give the thumbs up as outlook for 2021 improves

2020 has been a turbulent year for the telecoms industry, but it has been a more positive year than expected for 5G, with an average of eight new launches per month globally and an upgrade to GSMA Intelligence’s adoption forecasts. Our annual Consumers in Focus survey adds weight to this positive outlook – we find that intentions to upgrade to 5G have increased substantially in 2020 across many markets, and that early 5G adopters are largely satisfied with their experience. Consumers praised network speeds, coverage and value for money. Alongside operators’ efforts to expand coverage and drive faster network speeds, positive word of mouth will help sway consumers on the fence. The momentum generated in 2020 should allow the industry to focus more on the development of 5G use cases, none of which have so far managed to capture the attention of a majority of consumers.