Total number of 5G subscriptions in India is expected to reach 130 million in 2023 as Indians migrate to high-speed internet, a report has said, adding that these numbers may grow to 860 million by 2029.
According to the November 2023 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, India’s average data traffic per smartphone is the highest globally.
“5G subscription growth has been strong in India throughout 2023.At the end of 2023 – fourteen months after its commercial launch – 5G penetration is expected to have topped 11% in India,” the report said.
India seeing substantial 5G network deployments
According to Ericsson’s report, India is seeing substantial 5G network deployments following the launch of 5G services in October 2022, and 5G subscriptions are estimated to account for 68% of mobile subscriptions in the region by the end of 2029.
4G still the dominant subscription type
Despite 5G rapidly making inroads, 4G continues to be the dominant subscription type driving connectivity and fueling data growth in the country. However, with subscribers migrating to 5G, 4G subscriptions are forecast to decline from 870 million in 2023 to 390 million by 2029. India is estimated to have a total mobile subscriptions of 1.27 billion in 2029.
India has the highest average data traffic per smartphone
Ericsson report said that India’s average data traffic per smartphone is the highest globally. It is projected to grow from 31GB per month in 2023 to around 75GB per month in 2029. Total mobile data traffic is estimated to grow from 26EB (exabytes) per month in 2023 to 73EB per month in 2029.
The report added that smartphone subscriptions in India as a percentage of total mobile subscriptions are expected to grow from 82% in 2023 to 93% in 2029.