India's Mobile Data Usage Surges: Average User Consumes Over 31 GB Monthly

Mobile Data Consumption in India

New Delhi, March 31: The demand for mobile data in India is on the rise, with the average monthly usage per user surpassing 31 GB in 2025. This represents an impressive 18% compound annual growth rate over the last five years, as detailed in a recent report released on Tuesday.

The Mobile Broadband Index from Nokia reveals that the increasing adoption of 5G technology and the growing popularity of data-intensive applications are key factors driving this trend across the nation.

According to the report, Indian users are consuming unprecedented amounts of data, largely due to services like 4K video streaming, cloud gaming, and AI-driven applications.

In 2025, the total mobile data traffic in India exceeded 27 exabytes per month, with 5G contributing nearly 47% of this figure. The traffic from 5G alone saw a remarkable 70% year-on-year growth, reaching 12.9 exabytes monthly.

Metro areas are at the forefront of 5G adoption, accounting for 58% of the total mobile data traffic. However, the technology is rapidly expanding into smaller regions, indicating that 5G is becoming a widespread phenomenon across the country.

The device ecosystem in India is also pivotal in this transition. By 2025, there were 892 million active 4G devices, with over 383 million being 5G-capable.

Moreover, more than 90% of smartphones shipped in that year supported 5G, facilitating a smoother transition for users.

The report emphasizes the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping future network demands.

As AI-based applications and immersive digital experiences become more prevalent, telecom networks will need to adapt to accommodate higher data volumes, reduced latency, and more complex computing requirements.

Looking forward, the report anticipates that India's 5G subscriber base could exceed 1 billion by 2031.