Key facts
- India's 5G subscriptions are projected to reach over 1.1 billion by 2031.
- By 2031, 5G is expected to represent 81% of India's mobile subscriptions.
- 4G subscriptions are forecast to significantly decrease from 570 million in 2025 to 160 million by 2031.
- Monthly mobile data usage per smartphone in India is expected to nearly double to 70 GB by 2031.
- Globally, 5G subscriptions are anticipated to grow to 6.4 billion by 2031.
India's 5G subscriber base is poised to exceed 1.1 billion by the end of 2031, achieving an 81% penetration rate, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report. This rapid adoption is fueled by affordable 5G smartphones, expanding network coverage, and the rollout of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services.
By the end of 2025, India is expected to have 430 million 5G subscriptions, making up 35% of the total. While 4G will remain dominant with a 46% share in 2025, its usage is projected to decline sharply to nearly 160 million by 2031 as users transition to 5G.
India is also set to maintain its status as the world's largest consumer of mobile data per smartphone. Monthly usage is anticipated to climb from the current 37 GB to 70 GB by 2031, nearly doubling over the forecast period.
Globally, 5G subscriptions surpassed three billion in the first quarter of 2026 and are expected to more than double to 6.4 billion by the end of 2031. Ericsson's CTO noted that future connectivity demands will be influenced by the rise of artificial intelligence, with mobile networks evolving into critical, intelligent infrastructure.