5G Subscriptions In India May Hit 130 Million This Year: Ericsson Report

Average data traffic per smartphone in India is the highest, worldwide. It is further estimated to grow from 31GB per month in 2023 to around 75GB per month in 2029.

However, 4G continues to be the dominant subscription type.

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It has been over a year that commercial 5G network was rolled out in India and the country is seeing substantial 5G network deployment. Fifth-generation (5G) subscriptions are expected to reach 130 million this year and they estimated to grow to 860 million by 2029. However, 4G continues to be the dominant subscription type which is driving connectivity and fueling data growth in the region, said a report by Ericsson on Thursday. 

Fifth-gen subscriptions are estimated to account for 68 per cent of mobile subscriptions in the region by the end of 2029 and as mobile subscribers migrate to this network, 4G subscriptions are forecast to decline from 870 million in 2023 to 390 million by 2029. Total mobile subscriptions in the region are estimated to grow to 1.27 billion in 2029.

The report also covered wireless connectivity for the manufacturing industry and how 5G is becoming a key determinant of production output and how it enables the agility required to support rapid changes and reallocation of resources.

Average data traffic per smartphone in India is the highest, worldwide. It is further estimated to grow from 31GB per month in 2023 to around 75GB per month in 2029, which is a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16 per cent. Total mobile data traffic is estimated to grow from 26EB per month in 2023 to 73EB per month in 2029, growing at a CAGR of 19 per cent, the report further mentioned.

Smartphone subscriptions in India as a percentage of total mobile subscriptions are expected to grow from 82 per cent this year to 93 per cent in 2029.

The Ericsson report predicted that almost one-in-five of all global mobile subscriptions will be 5G subscriptions by the end of this year, as the growth proves resilient despite continued economic challenges and geopolitical unrest in some markets.

The statistic is featured in November 2023 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, which estimates that there will be 610 million new 5G subscriptions for the calendar year 2023 -- a 63 per cent increase than last year -- bringing the global total to 1.6 billion, about 100 million more than previously predicted.

“With more than 600 million 5G subscriptions added globally this year, and rising in every region, it is evident that the demand for high performance connectivity is strong. The roll-out out of 5G continues and we see an increasing number of 5G standalone networks being deployed, bringing opportunities to support new and more demanding applications for both consumers and enterprises," Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the global average data consumption per smartphone is also growing. Total mobile data traffic is predicted to grow threefold between the end of 2023 and end of 2029 -- attributed to factors such as improved device capabilities, an increase in data intensive content and continued improvements in the performance of deployed networks.

“The rate of data growth in mobile networks clearly reflects consumers’ passion for enhanced mobile broadband-related applications. This trend will increase in pace as more consumers worldwide embrace 5G and new use cases emerge, triggering further growth in data traffic. As most traffic is generated indoors, where people typically spend most of their time, there is a growing need to extend 5G mid-band coverage both indoors and outdoors to ensure a comprehensive 5G experience in all locations," said Peter Jonsson, Executive Editor, Ericsson Mobility Report, Ericsson.