India Leads Global Mobile Data Consumption at 36 GB Monthly Per User
Indian smartphone users are consuming the highest amount of mobile data globally at 36 GB per month, with projections showing this could surge to 65 GB by 2031, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report.
Key Takeaways
- India’s 5G subscriptions to hit 394 million by end-2025
- 5G to manage 43% of all mobile data by end-2025
- Global 5G subscriptions to reach 6.4 billion by 2031
- Fixed Wireless Access connections reach 12 million in India
India’s 5G Growth Trajectory
India’s 5G subscriptions are set to reach 394 million by the end of 2025, representing 32% of total mobile subscriptions. This growth is expected to continue, crossing 1 billion by 2031 with 79% subscription penetration.
Fixed Wireless Access Expansion
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) demand remains robust in India, with combined Jio and Airtel FWA connections reaching 12 million as of September 2025. Affordable 5G FWA devices and high data consumption are accelerating India’s data traffic growth.
About 1.4 billion people are expected to be served by FWA broadband by 2031, with 90% via 5G technology.
Global 5G and 6G Outlook
The report forecasts 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions globally by 2031, comprising two-thirds of all mobile subscriptions. Nearly 4.1 billion of these will be 5G Standalone (SA) networks.
In 2025 alone, 5G subscriptions are expected to reach 2.9 billion, representing one-third of current mobile subscriptions and a year-on-year increase of 600 million.
Data Traffic Surge
Mobile network data traffic grew 20% between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, driven primarily by mainland China and India. 5G networks are projected to handle 43% of all mobile data by end-2025, up from 34% last year, with this figure expected to reach 83% by 2031.
6G Developments Ahead
The first commercial 6G launch could occur in markets including the U.S., Japan, South Korea, China, India, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Global 6G subscriptions are forecast to reach 180 million by 2031.
Commercial 6G is expected to launch about a year later in Europe compared to other regions, primarily due to later deployments of 5G SA networks.
