5G subscriptions in India likely to cross one billion mark by 2031

India finds itself at a pivotal moment in its technological journey, and a recent forecast by Ericsson suggests that its ambitions might soon pay off in a big way - the country is on track to cross one billion 5G subscriptions by 2031. Rather than being just a faster version of mobile internet, 5G - where “G” stands for “generation” - is the fifth generation of mobile network technology, bringing ultra-low latency, massive device connectivity, and the infrastructure needed to power everything from smart cities and the Internet of Things to real-time remote healthcare and autonomous systems.

Ericsson’s Mobility Report notes that by the end of 2025, India is expected to have 394 million 5G subscriptions, which already makes up about 32 percent of its total mobile subscriptions. The report highlights that Indian smartphones are among the most data-hungry in the world: average monthly data usage per active device stands at 36 GB, and is projected to climb to 65 GB by 2031. A major factor in driving this growth is Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) - a technology that delivers home or enterprise broadband over 5G, without needing fibre to be laid everywhere. Ericsson argues that affordable FWA devices and surging demand from users are accelerating India’s data traffic significantly.

In India, the cost of mobile data, including 5G services, is among the lowest in the world, making high-speed internet accessible to hundreds of millions of people. On average, 1 GB of data in India costs around ₹19, which is significantly cheaper than most developed and developing countries. This affordability has played a major role in driving the rapid adoption of 5G, as users can consume large volumes of data without worrying about high expenses. In comparison, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and many parts of Europe charge several hundred rupees for the same amount of data, highlighting how India’s competitive telecom market and large user base have made digital access far more inclusive and widespread.

But India’s accelerating 5G adoption is not just a market phenomenon - it is deeply connected to long-term government strategy and policy, because the country’s digital future depends on more than just consumer usage. The government has launched the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) to directly support research and innovation in 5G and 6G technologies, enabling academia, start-ups and MSMEs to develop homegrown telecom solutions. In addition, the Department of Telecommunications has sanctioned 100 academic 5G labs across India, explicitly to help build a 6G-ready research ecosystem. Alongside this, two dedicated testbeds have been funded: a 6G-THz testbed and an advanced optical communication testbed, which will support cutting-edge research into the next generation of wireless networks.

This confluence of market forces and deliberate policy ambition shows that India’s 5G milestone is not just a commercial success story, but a strategic one. The ambition to reach a billion 5G subscriptions is deeply tied to a vision of technological sovereignty, where India is not just a consumer of global standards, but a maker of them. And by investing in 6G research and ecosystem-building today, the country is seeking to ensure it won’t be left behind in the race for future communications leadership.

This is not just about more phones being connected - it is about shaping India’s digital destiny. If India can scale 5G at this pace and lay the groundwork for 6G in parallel, it strengthens its claim to being a leader in next-generation connectivity, innovation, and global technology standards. The coming years will be critical, but the direction is clear: India is not just preparing for the future, it’s working to build it.