5G Momentum in India Heading Towards New Records...

India’s 5G ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with the number of 5G users expected to reach 110 crore (1.1 billion) by 2031, according to Ericsson’s latest report. The report states that by the end of 2025, India will have 43 crore 5G users, accounting for 35% of total mobile subscriptions. By 2031, 5G is expected to contribute 81% of all mobile connections in the country. Ericsson India Managing Director Nitin Bansal said improved mobile broadband infrastructure and wider network coverage are driving strong adoption of 5G services.

The report highlighted that India remains the global leader in mobile data consumption per smartphone. Average monthly data usage currently stands at 37 GB per user and is projected to increase to 70 GB by 2031. While 4G still holds a 46% market share, its user base is expected to decline from 57 crore in 2025 to 16 crore by 2031. Affordable devices, wider network availability, and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services are accelerating the shift toward 5G connectivity.

Globally, 5G subscriptions crossed 310 crore in the first quarter of 2026 after adding 16.2 crore new connections. This figure is expected to exceed 640 crore by 2031. Around 390 telecom operators worldwide have launched commercial 5G services, while over 90 operators offer standalone 5G networks. The share of 5G in total mobile data traffic is expected to rise from 48% by the end of 2025 to 85% by 2031, reflecting the growing dominance of next-generation connectivity.