Nokia reports 3x growth in 5G traffic across India in latest Mobile Broadband Index

Nokia today disclosed the findings of its annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT). According to the reports, it saw a three-fold year-on-year increase in 5G data traffic across India in 2024. The report provides a complete overview of mobile broadband trends in India. It shows how 5G technology is being quickly adopted due to its wide availability, reliable connections, and increasing number of compatible devices. 

Tarun Chhabra, Senior Vice President and Country Head, of Nokia India, said, "Nokia has been at the center of India's mobile broadband revolution and is driving 5G deployment with cutting-edge technology and deep partnerships. We look forward to continuing this journey through deepening relationships with operator partners to meet the ever-increasing demand for connectivity."

According to the report, the main contributors to this growth are Class B and C circles where 5G data consumption is increasing by 3.4 times and 3.2 times respectively. The expansion of the 5G network in these circles has been the major factor behind their growth. The contribution of 5G data usage in metro circles to the total mobile broadband data has reached 43 per cent from 20 per cent in 2023, while the growth of 4G data is slowing down.

The report also unveiled that the average monthly data consumption per user will increase to 27.5 gigabytes in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5 over the last five years. The continued growth of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is accelerating this data usage with FWA users consuming up to 12 times more data than the average mobile data user due to new services in residential and business settings.

The 5G device ecosystem continues to grow rapidly in India where the number of active 5G devices is expected to double year-on-year to 27.1 crore in 2024. With nearly 90 percent of smartphones expected to be 5G capable by 2025, this trend is likely to advance further.

Based on current trends, the Nokia MBiT Index estimates that total 5G data traffic will surpass 4G data traffic by the first quarter of 2026. In addition, the emergence of 5G in the advanced direction is expected to increase the business opportunities that will lead to service gaps, generate new sources of IK and reduce costs through prudent operations.

The capabilities of 5G Advanced will serve as a foundation for the move towards 6G, which will open up possibilities for future applications such as distributed computing services, AI-driven intelligence, and spatial and temporal sensing, and enhance connectivity and localisation.