Chennai, Apr 1:
Nokia released its 13th Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT), highlighting India’s accelerated 5G adoption and rising data consumption. The report shows that pan-India monthly 5G data traffic surged 70% year-on-year in 2025 to 12.9 exabytes (EB), accounting for nearly 47% of total mobile broadband traffic. Average monthly data usage per user rose to over 31 GB, reflecting an 18% CAGR over the past five years.
Metro regions lead 5G adoption, contributing 58% of data traffic, while Category A, B, and C circles also show strong growth. India’s device ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with 892 million active 4G devices, 383 million 5G-capable devices, and over 90% of smartphones shipped in 2025 supporting 5G, enabling broader connectivity and multi-band deployments.
The report emphasizes the emerging role of AI in transforming network traffic patterns, driven by AI applications, immersive experiences, and autonomous systems. Nokia projects India’s 5G subscriber base could surpass 1 billion by 2031, reinforcing the country’s position as the world’s second-largest 5G market.
Vibha Mehra, Nokia India Country Manager – Designate, said the nation’s digital ecosystem is evolving rapidly, and Nokia remains committed to building high-performance, future-ready network infrastructure.
The MBiT report also underscores the impact of 5G on emerging technologies and digital services in India. With faster speeds, lower latency, and higher reliability, 5G is enabling AI-driven applications, cloud gaming, immersive AR/VR experiences, and smart city initiatives.
Analysts note that this rapid evolution is creating opportunities for businesses, startups, and educational institutions to leverage next-generation connectivity, positioning India as a global hub for innovation in digital services and intelligent network solutions.