A recent report by Ericsson says, India is set to achieve approximately 700 million 5G mobile subscriptions by the end of 2028. This represents a significant increase from the 10 million subscriptions recorded at the end of 2022 and is expected to account for around 57 per cent of all mobile subscriptions in the country.
The report emphasises the increasing reliance on smartphones, with average data traffic per smartphone expected to rise from 26GB per month in 2022 to around 62GB per month in 2028. Various activities like as streaming, online gaming, and remote work are driving this increase in data consumption.
Smartphone subscriptions are predicted to climb from 76 per cent of total mobile subscriptions in 2021 to a staggering 93 per cent in 2028, highlighting smartphones’ dominance in India’s mobile ecosystem. 4G subscriptions, on the other hand, are expected to fall from 820 million in 2022 to 500 million by 2028.
Nitin Bansal, Head of Ericsson India, emphasised the pivotal role of mobile networks in driving social and economic inclusion in the country. The establishment of a robust digital infrastructure in India is expected to bridge the digital divide, create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and boost the economy.
According to the report, smartphone subscriptions in India would expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent by 2028, reaching over 1.14 billion. This expansion reflects smartphones’ rising cost and accessibility to a broader segment of the population.
Additionally, India’s total mobile data traffic is estimated to surge from 18 exabytes (EB) per month in 2022 to 58 EB per month in 2028, with a CAGR of 22 per cent. Meeting this exponential demand for reliable and high-speed connectivity will require continuous infrastructure development.
With over 240 communication service providers globally offering commercial 5G services and around 35 deploying or launching 5G standalone (SA) networks, the findings of the report highlight the immense potential of the Indian mobile market driven by the rapid adoption of 5G technology.