The global rollout of 5G is accelerating faster than any mobile network technology in history, with 2.25 billion connections recorded worldwide, according to McKinsey’s Technology Trends Outlook 2025.
The consultancy said 5G adoption is advancing at a pace four times faster than 4G, fuelled by consumer and enterprise demand for high-speed internet, low-latency communications, and digital transformation across industries. Beyond mobile connectivity, 5G is powering applications in smart cities, autonomous vehicles, AI, and industrial automation.
North America and China are leading the charge, with population adoption projected at 89% and 88% respectively by 2030. The report highlights the commercialisation of 5G-Advanced (5.5G) in 2024 as a bridge toward 6G, which is expected to integrate sensing capabilities into networks, turning them into data producers as well as carriers.
McKinsey forecasts rapid growth in network slicing, with the global market expected to hit $1.69 billion in 2025, and in private wireless networks, projected to expand from $6.27 billion in 2024 to $32.86 billion by 2032. However, high deployment costs and talent shortages remain key barriers.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping connectivity demand, driving investment in fiber infrastructure, digital twin technologies, and AI-enabled radio access networks (AI-RAN). Non-terrestrial networks, including low-Earth orbit satellites, are also becoming commercially viable, extending coverage to underserved areas.
McKinsey cautioned that uncertainties remain around global 6G standardisation and the sustainability of energy-hungry IoT and AI applications. “6G will introduce new capabilities like sensing, which could allow telcos not just to transport data, but to become producers of data themselves—a fundamental shift in the value chain,” said Martin Wrulich, senior partner at McKinsey.
