New iPhones Help 5G Handsets Capture More Than Half the Market
- Apple’s iPhone lineup accounted for 37% of 5G sales in January
- China market is a key driver of demand for top players
Apple Inc.’s iPhones led the mobile industry to a milestone in January, when handsets with fifth-generation cellular networking accounted for more than half of smartphone sales for the first time.
Phones with the advanced technology made up 51% of units sold, according to Counterpoint Research data. 5G connectivity is seen as a key enabler for transformative technologies such as autonomous driving and factory automation, with China being among the most aggressive nations in expanding its availability. China’s telecom watchdog has said the country will push 5G coverage by adding 600,000 base stations this year, elevating the total number to well above 2 million. The country also drives 5G handset sales for the world’s biggest mobile manufacturers.