India is on track to surpass one billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report released on Thursday. This milestone would give the country an impressive 79 percent 5G penetration rate, marking rapid adoption within just a few years of the nationwide rollout.
The report positions India among the world&rsquo;s fastest-expanding 5G markets. By the close of 2025, the country is expected to reach nearly 394 million 5G users, accounting for 32 percent of all mobile subscribers.
Ericsson India&rsquo;s Managing Director, Nitin Bansal, highlighted that India continues to lead the world in mobile data consumption. Smartphone users in the country currently average 36 GB of data per month, a figure projected to jump to 65 GB by 2031. Affordable 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices and rising high-bandwidth usage are key drivers behind this explosive growth.
Globally, 5G subscriptions are forecast to reach 6.4 billion by 2031, representing around two-thirds of total mobile connections. In 2025 alone, 5G subscriptions are expected to climb to 2.9 billion, adding 600 million users in a single year.
The report also notes rapid expansion in 5G network coverage, with an additional 400 million people worldwide expected to gain access in 2025. By year-end, half of the global population outside mainland China will be under 5G coverage.
Data consumption continues to surge as well, with global mobile network traffic rising 20 percent between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, driven largely by India and China. By 2025, 5G networks will carry 43 percent of total mobile data, a figure projected to soar to 83 percent by 2031.
Fixed Wireless Access remains a major growth segment for 5G. The report estimates that 1.4 billion people will use FWA by 2031, with 90 percent of them connected via 5G. Currently, 159 service providers offer 5G-based FWA services, representing roughly 65 percent of all FWA operators worldwide.

Ericsson report says India will reach 79 percent 5G penetration as data demand surges

India to Hit 1 Billion 5G Users by 2031

Ericsson report says India will reach 79 percent 5G penetration as data demand surges

November 20, 2025 | 14:15 IST