The consumption of mobile data by 5G users in India has surged to 3.6 times more than that by 4G users since its introduction in October 2022, according to a recent report by Nokia, a prominent telecom equipment manufacturer.
In its latest publication titled 'Mobile Broadband Index,' unveiled on Wednesday, Nokia highlighted that 5G services have contributed to a substantial 15 per cent share of all data traffic in the country during 2023.
"Since its inception in October 2022, 5G users have been consuming approximately 3.6 times more mobile data traffic compared to 4G users.
In 2023 alone, users devoured a staggering 17.4 exabytes per month, marking a notable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26 per cent over the past five years," the report elucidated.
The rollout of 5G technology has significantly accelerated the growth in data consumption, a pivotal factor that has catapulted the share of 5G traffic to 15 per cent of the total data traffic in 2023, the report further revealed.
Furthermore, Nokia's findings also shed light on the rapid evolution of the 5G device ecosystem in India, with around 17 per cent of the total active 4G devices, accounting for 134 million out of 796 million, now possessing 5G capabilities.
Amit Marwah, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nokia India, emphasised, "Data consumption in India has witnessed a remarkable 20 per cent year-on-year surge, reaching an astonishing 17.4 exabytes per month.
This surge in data consumption underscores India's insatiable appetite for digital content, with an average individual subscriber consuming 24 GB of data per month, placing India among the top consumers of data globally."
Moreover, the report highlighted a substantial growth in 5G traffic across all telecom circles in India, with metropolitan areas leading the charge and capturing a significant 20 per cent share of the overall mobile data traffic.
"An enhanced 5G network availability, coupled with improved performance and the accessibility of a wide range of affordable devices, alongside the introduction of innovative data-intensive applications and services, is anticipated to propel the future growth of 5G technology," the report noted.
The report also highlighted a noteworthy 24 percent year-on-year surge in the average monthly data traffic per user in 2023, reaching an impressive 24.1 gigabytes per user per month, reflecting the growing reliance on data-driven services and applications among Indian consumers.
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