Forecast Update: 5G will boost US mobile market recovery from shortterm COVID-19 impacts

摘要

COVID-19 is taking a devastating toll on many aspects of life all over the world. Relatively speaking, its impacts on the US mobile market are expected to be swift and short-lived. Because of the economic impacts from COVID-19, US operators' service revenues are expected to take a hit in 2020, with the expectation they will recover to 2019 levels by 2022. Correspondingly, ARPU also takes a larger hit in 2020, but throughout the rest of the five-year forecast period, 5G will temper ARPU declines that persist from price competition in the US market. Uptake of 5G is expected to be lower than previously forecast for 2020, but undeterred operator deployment plans and pent-up consumer demand are expected to result in a significant rebound in 2021. Fixed broadband sees an uptick because it is seen as even more of an essential service during the pandemic and beyond with the acceleration to digitalization in our "new normal."