5G Subscribers In India To Hit Around 840 Million By 2029: Ericsson 

Fifth-generation (5G) subscriptions are poised to hit around 840 million by the end of 2029, accounting for 65 per cent of mobile subscriptions in India.

Data usage per smartphone in India is projected to rise from 29GB per month to 68GB per month by the end of 2029. ( Image Source :Ericsson )

Fifth-generation (5G) subscriptions are poised to hit around 840 million by the end of 2029, accounting for 65 per cent of mobile subscriptions in India, says a new report. Accordng to Ericsson’s June 2024 edition of the bi-annual Mobility Report, the number of 5G subscribers in the country surged from 10 million in 2022 to 119 million by the end of 2023, on the back of extensive deployment of 5G networks by telcos Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

Data Usage Per Smartphone In India Set To Rise

According to the report, data usage per smartphone in India is projected to rise from 29GB per month to 68GB per month by the end of 2029. Although LTE will remain in use for the foreseeable future, the number of 4G subscribers in India is anticipated to decline from 740 million to 410 million over the next five years.

During the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, approximately 160 million new users adopted 5G, pushing the global total to 1.7 billion 5G users. This number is forecasted to reach 5.6 billion by the conclusion of 2029.

The Ericsson Mobility report showed a rising trend among Communications Service Providers (CSPs) using 5G networks to provide Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services. Out of the 310 CSPs surveyed globally, 241 reported offering 5G-based fixed wireless access services as of April 2024. Approximately 128 of these providers are actively delivering FWA services, reflecting a 29 per cent increase from 2022 to 2023.

Global network providers are predominantly using 5G networks to offer Enhanced Mobile Broadband and Fixed Wireless Access. However, only 50 out of 300 Communications Service Providers (CSPs) worldwide have implemented standalone 5G networks, indicating that many have yet to fully harness the network's capabilities.

Network providers globally are primarily leveraging 5G networks to provide Enhanced Mobile Broadband and Fixed Wireless Access. However, only 50 out of 300 Communications Service Providers (CSPs) worldwide have implemented standalone 5G networks, indicating that many have yet to fully exploit the network's potential capabilities.