Archive · 21 Nov 2025
India Leads in Mobile Data Consumption, Set for Billion 5G Users by 2031
Indians use the most mobile data in the world, with an average of 36GB per month.
This is because data plans are cheap and smartphones are affordable.
By 2031, India is expected to have more than one billion 5G subscriptions, with 6G services starting soon.
This is because 5G adoption is growing rapidly, and people are using more data on their phones.
5G is helping India become more digital.
Indians use an average of 36GB of mobile data per month, highest globally
India to have over 1 billion 5G subscriptions by 2031, with 394 million by 2025
India's mobile data traffic to grow to 65 GB per month per user by 2031
5G to serve as critical infrastructure for India's digitalisation
India among early adopters of 6G, with 180 million subscriptions expected by 2031
- Who
- Indians, Ericsson (telecom equipment provider)
- What
- Leading in mobile data consumption, predicted 5G subscriptions growth
- When
- Currently, by 2025, by 2031
- Where
- India
- Why
- Due to cheap data plans, affordable smartphones, rapid 5G adoption, and increasing data usage
Supporters of 5G/6G Adoption
Critics of Rapid Network Upgrades
Data Consumption
Supporters of 5G/6G Adoption
5G and 6G will support India's increasing data needs
Critics of Rapid Network Upgrades
Rapid upgrades may leave some users behind due to affordability issues
- Current average monthly mobile data usage per user
- 36GB
- Expected 5G subscriptions (2025)
- 394 million
- Expected 5G subscriptions (2031)
- Over 1 billion
- Expected mobile data traffic per active smartphone (2031)
- 65 GB per month
- Expected 6G subscriptions (2031)
- 180 million
