India's new record: Monthly data usage reaches 27.5 GB, 5G traffic increases 3 times in mobile data consumption

India is continously setting new records in Internet data consumption. The average monthly data consumption reached 27.5GB per user in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5% over the last five years. 5G technology and fixed wireless access (FWA) are considered to be major contributors to this growth, which is rapidly increasing data usage in both residential and business sectors.

According to Nokia's Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) report, monthly 5G data traffic in India has increased three times. According to the report, 5G data consumption will exceed 4G by the first quarter of 2026. The highest growth in 5G data usage was seen in category B and C circles, where data consumption grew 3.4 times and 3.2 times respectively.

The report said that 5G data usage in metro cities has now reached 43% of total mobile broadband data, while it was only 20% in 2023. During this period, 4G data growth has declined, which clearly shows that consumers prefer 5G for faster and better connectivity.

The number of 5G devices in India is increasing very rapidly. Active 5G devices are set to double year on year to 271 million by 2024. In subsequent years, this number will increase even more as almost 90% of smartphones will be enabled with 5G by 2025.

The report also states that the expansion of 5G advanced technology in India is establishing a strong foundation for 6G networks. Telecommunications providers are already investing and planning for infrastructure development for 6G that will provide better connections to Indian mobile users in the upcoming years.