A new report on Wednesday revealed that ever since the introduction of 5G by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2022, its users in India have been consuming approximately 3.6 times more mobile data traffic than 4G users. This surge in data consumption is indicative of the growing adoption and utilisation of 5G technology across the country.
Furthermore, according to the Nokia Mobile Broadband Index report, the average monthly data traffic per user witnessed a substantial increase of 24 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in 2023, soaring to 24.1 gigabytes per user per month. These statistics underscore the escalating demand for high-speed Internet services and the evolving digital landscape in India.
According to the findings, the introduction of 5G has become a pivotal driver in the surge of data consumption, accounting for 15 per cent of the total data traffic in 2023. This statistic highlights the substantial impact that the rollout of 5G technology has had on the data landscape, indicating a notable shift towards faster and more advanced telecommunications infrastructure in India.
Last year, users consumed 17.4 exabytes per month with a CAGR of 26 per cent over the past five years.
“5G data consumption has been four times faster than 4G in India”, the Nokia Mobile Broadband Index report noted.
The use of 5G traffic has experienced significant expansion across all telecom circles, with metro circles spearheading the trend and achieving a 20 per cent share in the total mobile data traffic. This data underscores the widespread adoption and utilisation of 5G technology, particularly in urban areas, as users increasingly embrace the benefits of high-speed Internet connectivity.
“What is immediately obvious is the incredible proliferation of 5G technology across India and the increasing demand for super-fast 5G data speeds,” Tarun Chhabra, Head of Mobile Networks Business at Nokia (India), said in a statement.
The report highlighted that improved 5G accessibility and performance, along with the availability of diverse affordable devices, alongside the introduction of new data-intensive applications and services, will drive the future growth of 5G. These factors collectively contribute to an environment conducive to the rapid expansion and adoption of 5G technology, paving the way for its continued advancement in the telecommunications sector.
The Nokia Mobile Broadband Index report predicted that the emergence of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is poised to play a pivotal role in unlocking new services for both residential and business sectors. According to the report, FWA users are anticipated to consume approximately 2.5 times more data than the average 5G user, underscoring the potential for enhanced connectivity and data usage facilitated by this technology.