India to Cross 1.1 Billion 5G Users by 2031, Says Ericsson Report

India's transition to 5G is accelerating at a remarkable pace, with the country expected to add hundreds of millions of new users over the next five years. According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, India's 5G subscriber base is projected to surpass 1.1 billion by the end of 2031, accounting for 81 per cent of all mobile subscriptions in the country.

The forecast reflects the rapid expansion of 5G services since their commercial rollout, supported by affordable smartphones, wider network availability and growing consumer demand for high-speed connectivity.

What's Driving India's 5G Growth?

The report attributes India's strong 5G adoption to several factors. Affordable 5G-enabled smartphones have made the technology accessible to a larger section of consumers. At the same time, telecom operators have significantly expanded network coverage, reaching nearly all districts across the country.

Another major contributor is the rollout of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services, which use mobile networks to deliver broadband connectivity to homes and businesses, particularly in areas where traditional fibre infrastructure may be limited.

How Big is India's 5G User Base Today?

India ended 2025 with approximately 430 million 5G subscriptions, representing 35 per cent of total mobile subscriptions. While 4G remains the largest mobile technology segment with a 46 per cent share, that dominance is expected to decline steadily as consumers migrate to newer networks.

"4G subscriptions are forecast to decline from around 570 million in 2025 to nearly 160 million by 2031 as users increasingly migrate to 5G networks," the report said.

The projections suggest that 5G will become the dominant mobile technology across India during the forecast period.

Mobile Data Consumption Set for Another Boom

India already leads the world in mobile data consumption per smartphone, and that trend is expected to continue.

According to the report, average monthly mobile data usage currently stands at 37 GB per smartphone. By 2031, that figure is expected to reach 70 GB per month, nearly doubling over six years.

The increase reflects growing demand for video streaming, cloud gaming, artificial intelligence-powered applications, digital payments, remote work and other data-intensive services.

What Does Ericsson Say?

Commenting on the findings, Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India, said the country's expanding 5G ecosystem is reshaping digital experiences.

"India's rapidly growing 5G adoption based on enhanced mobile broadband and 5G FWA is transforming consumer experiences," Bansal said.

He added that the country's "robust and secure 5G infrastructure" is enabling inclusion, governance and innovation at scale while strengthening the foundations of the Digital India programme.

The Global 5G Picture

India's growth mirrors a broader global shift toward next-generation connectivity. Ericsson's report notes that worldwide 5G subscriptions crossed the three-billion mark during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 3.1 billion users.

The company expects global 5G subscriptions to more than double over the next five years, reaching 6.4 billion by the end of 2031.

Why AI Will Shape Future Networks

Ericsson believes the next phase of telecom growth will be closely linked to artificial intelligence and emerging digital services.

Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer at Ericsson and publisher of the Ericsson Mobility Report, said future connectivity demands will require smarter and more adaptive networks.

"Mobile networks are no longer only about providing best-effort connectivity; they are becoming critical, intelligent infrastructure that meets diverse application needs," Ekudden said.

As AI-powered applications become more common across industries and consumer services, telecom networks are expected to play a much larger role in supporting real-time, high-performance digital experiences.

The Bottom Line

India's 5G journey is moving faster than many global markets, with subscriber numbers expected to more than double by 2031. As 4G usage declines and data consumption continues to surge, 5G is set to become the backbone of India's digital economy, powering everything from everyday smartphone use to next-generation AI applications.

(With inputs from ANI)