In a breakthrough that cements India’s position as a global digital powerhouse, the country is expected to cross 1 billion 5G users by 2031, according to Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report 2025. With this explosive growth, India is poised to become the world’s No.1 nation in mobile data consumption.
The report reveals a staggering surge in digital adoption—powered by cheaper 5G smartphones, massive network rollouts, and a population that’s consuming more mobile data than any other country on the planet.
World Record: India Now Consumes the Most Mobile Data
India’s average monthly mobile data usage has hit 36GB per active smartphone—the highest anywhere in the world. By 2031, this figure is projected to rise to a jaw-dropping 65GB per month, driven by streaming, gaming, AI-based apps, cloud services, and online learning.
5G Growth in India (Key Highlights)
●394 million 5G users by end of 2025
●5G to account for 32% of all mobile connections in 2025
●79% 5G penetration expected by 2031
●1 billion+ users projected within six years
This means nearly 8 out of 10 mobile users in India will be on 5G networks by 2031—an unprecedented shift for a country that launched 4G merely a decade ago.
Global 5G Wave Accelerates
Ericsson predicts:
●2.9 billion 5G users globally by end of 2025
●Rising to 6.4 billion by 2031
●Nearly 66% of all mobile connections worldwide will be 5G
●4.1 billion of these will be advanced Standalone 5G subscriptions
By the end of 2025, nearly half of the world’s population (excluding China) will be under 5G coverage — expanding to 85% by 2031.
India’s FWA Boom: The Next Big Disruptor
A major driver of this growth is India’s soaring demand for 5G-powered Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) — especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Contributing factors include:
●Higher household internet consumption
●Affordable home 5G devices (CPE)
●Rising appetite for streaming, cloud gaming & OTT
●Work-from-home & hybrid work models
Globally, 1.4 billion broadband users are expected to rely on FWA by 2031 — and 90% of these will run on 5G.
Data Traffic Surges Beyond Expectations
Mobile network traffic rose 20% between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, outpacing forecasts. India and China remain the largest contributors, signaling a long-term leap toward high-capacity, high-speed digital infrastructure.
By end-2025:
●43% of global mobile data will run on 5G
By 2031:
●That share will skyrocket to 83%
Industry Speaks
Nitin Bansal, MD, Ericsson India, said:
“5G has become a foundational technology for India’s digital transformation and will continue accelerating innovation across sectors.”
What This Means for India
●Faster rollout of smart cities
●Boost to AI, robotics, autonomous systems
●Growth in telemedicine, fintech & edtech
●A major push toward Digital India & Industry 4.0
●Stronger global competitiveness
With 5G becoming the backbone of digital innovation, India is not just catching up — it’s racing ahead to lead the world.
