New Delhi, March 31: Data consumption in India is on the rise, with the average monthly usage per user exceeding 31GB in 2025. This marks an 18% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The latest edition of Nokia’s Mobile Broadband Index highlights how the growing popularity of 5G and the increasing use of data-heavy applications are driving this surge in data consumption across the country.
The report indicates that Indians are consuming more data than ever, primarily due to services like 4K video streaming, cloud gaming, and AI-based applications.
In 2025, total mobile data traffic in India surpassed 27 exabytes per month, with 5G contributing nearly 47% of this traffic. The 5G traffic alone saw an annual increase of 70%, reaching 12.9 exabytes per month.
Metro cities are leading the way in 5G adoption, with the technology now accounting for 58% of total mobile data traffic. Additionally, the spread of 5G is rapidly expanding into smaller cities, indicating that it is no longer confined to urban areas.
The device ecosystem in India is playing a crucial role in this transformation. In 2025, there were 892 million active 4G devices, with over 383 million already 5G-capable. Furthermore, more than 90% of smartphones sold during the year supported 5G, facilitating the transition for users.
The report also emphasizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping future network demands. As AI-based applications and digital experiences become more prevalent, telecommunications networks will need to evolve to handle higher data loads, lower latency, and more complex computing requirements.
Looking ahead, the report estimates that the number of 5G subscribers in India could exceed 1 billion by 2031.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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