Indian 5G users to grow to 770 million by 2028, average data use at 40 Gigabytes (GB): Nokia

India’s 5G subscriber base is expected to grow 2.65 times, reaching 770 million by 2028, up from 290 million in 2024, according to Nokia’s annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) report. The study highlights that average 5G data consumption has increased to 40 Gigabytes (GB) per user per month, driven by the rapid adoption of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services. FWA users consume over 12 times more data than the average mobile data user, fuelled by high-bandwidth services in residential and business segments. India’s 5G data traffic surged threefold in 2024, underscoring the nation’s growing demand for high-speed connectivity. 

The report further notes that India’s 5G device ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with active 5G devices doubling year-on-year to 271 million in 2024. This trend is set to accelerate, as nearly 90% of smartphones replaced in 2025 will be 5G-capable. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of total data consumption across 4G and 5G networks stood at 19.5% over five years, reaching 27.5 GB per user in 2024. With continued network expansion and rising smartphone penetration, India is poised to become one of the largest 5G markets globally, contributing significantly to the digital economy and next-generation connectivity. 

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.