India is projected to surpass 1.1 billion 5G subscriptions by 2031, achieving 81% penetration, according to an Ericsson report. Driven by affordable 5G devices, wider network coverage and FWA services, 5G users reached 430 million in 2025. As adoption grows, 4G subscriptions are expected to decline sharply, while mobile data usage could nearly double to 70 GB per smartphone per month by 2031.

New Delhi: India is expected to have more than 1.1 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031, reaching about 81 per cent subscription penetration, a report said on Tuesday.

The report from Ericsson said 5G adoption in India continues to grow rapidly, driven by the availability of affordable 5G-enabled smartphones and devices, expanded network coverage across almost all districts, and the increasing rollout of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services.

The number of commercial differentiated connectivity service offerings based on 5G SA network slicing from CSPs continues to grow globally.

5G subscriptions in India reached 430 million at the end of 2025, accounting for 35 per cent of mobile subscriptions, the report said adding that 4G subscriptions are expected to fall from around 570 million in 2025 to nearly 160 million by 2031 as users migrate to 5G.