India's 5G User Base to Exceed 1 Billion by 2031 Amid Rapid Growth in Data Consumption: Nokia MBiT Report

India Accelerates as Global Leader in 5G Connectivity

India's 5G subscriber base is expected to cross 1 billion by 2031, solidifying the country's position as a global leader in next-generation connectivity. According to the latest Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) report released by Nokia, India's rapid emergence in 5G adoption and usage is driven by strong momentum in 5G adoption and usage.

The report highlights the significant growth of monthly 5G data traffic in India, which reached 12.9 exabytes (EB) in 2025, a 70% year-on-year increase. This now accounts for nearly 47% of total mobile broadband traffic, indicating that 5G is on the verge of overtaking 4G as the dominant technology for data consumption. Overall mobile data traffic crossed 27 EB per month during the year, reflecting sustained growth driven by wider 5G coverage and increasing affordability of compatible devices.

At the user level, average monthly data consumption rose to over 31 GB in 2025, marking an 18% compound annual growth rate over the past five years. This surge is being fueled by the expansion of enhanced mobile broadband services and rising demand for data-intensive applications such as AI-led services, 4K video streaming, and cloud gaming.

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The report notes that while metro markets continue to lead 5G adoption, the technology is now spreading rapidly across smaller towns and non-metro regions. India's device ecosystem has evolved in parallel with network expansion, with the country having 892 million active 4G devices in 2025, of which more than 383 million were already 5G capable. Additionally, over 90% of smartphones shipped during the year supported 5G, strengthening readiness for broader and more advanced deployments.

The report also points to the growing influence of the AI supercycle, which is expected to reshape network traffic patterns and infrastructure requirements. As AI-enabled applications, immersive digital experiences, and autonomous systems scale up, telecom networks will need to evolve to support higher uplink demand, lower latency, and more distributed computing. This transition is expected to push networks toward AI-native, intent-driven architectures over time.

India has already emerged as one of the leading global markets for 5G, with the second-largest subscriber base and the second-highest level of 5G data consumption. The projected scale of adoption over the next few years further reinforces the country's position at the forefront of digital connectivity.

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