India set to cross 1.1 billion 5G subscriptions by 2031

MUMBAI: India’s 5G journey is shifting into top gear and the country’s appetite for data shows no signs of slowing down. India is projected to surpass 1.1 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031, achieving 81 per cent mobile subscription penetration, according to Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report. The forecast highlights how rapidly the country’s telecom landscape is evolving as 5G networks spread deeper into cities, towns and rural communities.

The report paints a picture of a market moving steadily from promise to scale. At the end of 2025, India, Nepal and Bhutan together accounted for 430 million 5G subscriptions, representing 35 per cent of total mobile subscriptions across the region.

While 4G remained the dominant technology with a 46 per cent share in 2025, Ericsson expects that balance to change dramatically over the next six years. The company forecasts 4G subscriptions will fall from around 570 million in 2025 to nearly 160 million by 2031, as consumers increasingly migrate to faster 5G networks.

The transition is being fuelled by a combination of wider network availability, growing affordability of 5G-enabled smartphones and the expansion of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services.

But the real headline may be India’s seemingly insatiable demand for data.

According to the report, the country already records the highest mobile data consumption per smartphone in the world, with users currently consuming an average of 37 GB per month. By 2031, that figure is expected to soar to 70 GB per month, nearly doubling current levels.

The surge reflects changing digital habits, from video streaming and gaming to cloud services, social media and AI-powered applications that increasingly rely on high-speed connectivity.

Ericsson also highlighted the growing role of 5G FWA broadband, which is helping extend internet access to homes and businesses, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where fibre connectivity remains limited. For telecom operators, FWA is emerging as one of the most significant commercial opportunities in the 5G era.

The report also points to the arrival of more sophisticated 5G capabilities in India. One telecom operator recently introduced differentiated connectivity services using network slicing, allowing customers to access customised network experiences tailored to specific applications and usage requirements.

Industry observers see such developments as early indicators of how 5G could evolve beyond faster internet speeds into a platform supporting enterprise services, smart cities, connected devices and industrial automation.

Commenting on the findings, Ericsson India Managing Director Nitin Bansal said the country’s growing adoption of enhanced mobile broadband and 5G FWA is transforming digital experiences while supporting broader goals around inclusion, innovation and governance.

The Indian market’s momentum mirrors a broader global trend. Worldwide, 5G subscriptions crossed the 3 billion mark in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 3.1 billion users after adding 162 million new subscriptions during the period.

Ericsson expects global 5G subscriptions to climb further to 6.4 billion by 2031. The company noted that more than 390 telecom operators have launched commercial 5G services globally, including over 90 operators running standalone 5G networks.

Network traffic continues to grow alongside adoption. Global mobile data traffic increased 22 per cent year-on-year during the first quarter of 2026, driven largely by usage growth in markets such as India and North America.

For India, the figures underline a larger shift. The country is no longer simply adding mobile users; it is building a digital infrastructure increasingly capable of supporting everything from entertainment and commerce to next-generation technologies.

If 4G connected India, 5G is beginning to redefine what that connection can do.