India 5G Users: India’s digital space is moving at a fast pace as millions shift to 5G every month. Strong rollout by major operators and rising demand for high-speed internet have pushed usage to new levels. With networks spreading quickly and huge amounts of data being consumed by smartphone users, India now stands on a path toward one of the biggest 5G markets in the world. Let’s look a little more closely at what this wave of growth really means.
India’s 5G Growth Story
India’s 5G base has grown rapidly, powered by aggressive expansion from Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, each of whom has pushed coverage into many regions to give users quicker access to high-speed data. Vodafone Idea, meanwhile, is working on rolling out 5G within its 17 priority circles, adding more fuel to this growth. As a result, several hundred million 5G users are spread across key regions and major cities.
A Billion 5G Connections on Horizon
The Ericsson Mobility Report highlights India’s massive shift toward advanced networks. According to this report, India is expected to cross 1 billion 5G connections by the end of 2031, taking subscription penetration to around 79%. By then, even 6G might be available commercially in some markets. This points to a strong shift toward digital infrastructure that supports faster internet, low-latency networks, and more connected services.
Usage Patterns in India
Ericsson estimates the monthly usage per active smartphone in India to be about 36GB, among the highest in the world. With more users switching to 5G, the number will surely rise. By the end of 2025, India’s 5G subscription figure is expected to reach 394 million, making almost 32 per cent of the total mobile subscriptions. These numbers testify to the speed at which new-age connectivity is getting adopted by users.
What Industry Experts Say
Ericsson India MD Nitin Bansal said the monthly mobile data usage in India is at 36GB per active smartphone, which is slated to grow to 65GB by 2031. He shared how 5G is driving digital transformation for all sectors by becoming an important infra layer for many of these services that require fast and stable connectivity.
Role of FWA in Data Growth
Ericsson also said that the availability of 5G FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) CPE and rising data consumption from FWA users are driving traffic growth across India. At the end of 2025, global 5G subscriptions could touch about 2.9 billion, which forms about a third of current global mobile subscriptions. Year over year, this would be an increase of nearly 600 million subscriptions.
Global Coverage Expansion
In terms of global expansion, in 2025, close to 400 million more people got access to 5G. By the end of 2025, roughly half of the global population outside mainland China is expected to be covered by 5G, which is yet another important step in the growth of global connectivity.
Conclusion
India’s 5G journey is at an impressive pace. With expanding networks by operators, fast-growing data usage, and greater prevalence of advanced tech services, India is on course to build one of the world’s largest 5G ecosystems. This transition holds the promise of better digital experiences, stronger infrastructure, and seamless connectivity for millions in the years to come.