By 2028, 5G is expected to make up 50% of all mobile subscribers, however, this transition won't be seamless. Historically slower to adopt new technologies, emerging markets are expected to hold onto GSM/EDGE, 3G, and LTE for longer, with LTE still accounting for nearly 40% of subscriptions even in 2028. Similar trends were seen prior, where HSPA (3G) usage peaked in 2016, while LTE usage is expected to have peaked in 2023. The adoption of 5G will be greatly influenced by smartphone penetration in emerging markets and compatibility with new features. However, beyond smartphones its role in powering IoT devices will accelerate the growth of smart devices, creating a strong push for faster networks.