In its 10th annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) report, Nokia has announced that mobile data traffic in India has surged by 3.2 times over the past five years. Last year, Nokia won a multi-year deal with Jio for 5G deployment.
The report also revealed that the country’s monthly mobile data usage has skyrocketed from 4.5 exabytes in 2018 to 14.4 exabytes in 2022, indicating a remarkable growth trend in mobile data consumption.
It is our pleasure to unveil the 10th edition of our Mobile Broadband India Traffic Index (#MBiT)* 2023.
Read about mega trends in data usage, future potential and more: https://t.co/SUfTkb56dK#NokiaIndia pic.twitter.com/D1GHtTZKdo
— Nokia India (@NokiaIndia) February 16, 2023
India’s mobile data traffic jumped 3.2x in the last five years
Nokia’s report on the Indian mobile market provides several noteworthy insights, including details on the growth and consumption of mobile data, the ongoing shift from 4G to 5G, and the potential for businesses to adopt 5G via private networks.
The report also highlights a correlation between the launch of commercial 5G services in October 2022 and a significant surge in mobile data consumption, as Communication Service Providers (CSPs) rapidly expand their 5G networks to new areas. Today, 4G and 5G subscribers account for nearly 100% of the country’s mobile data traffic.
Furthermore, the report indicates a sharp increase in average data consumption per user, which has surged to 19.5GB per user per month in 2022 – equivalent to roughly 6,600 songs. At the aggregate level, total mobile data consumption in India is projected to more than double by 2024. The report also highlights strong adoption of 5G devices, with over 70 million shipped to India in 2022.
As a result, enterprise investment in Private 5G networks is expected to accelerate significantly, with various industries such as manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare among others leading the charge in India. Private wireless network investment in India is forecasted to reach approximately US$250 million by 2027.
Key Highlights: Nokia MBiT Index 2023
- Nokia’s report predicts that mobile data in India will more than double by 2024, with 5G driving this growth.
- The adoption of private 5G networks is crucial for enterprises to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability as they evolve towards Industry 4.0.
- With government support for manufacturing and Industry 4.0, India is expected to become a global hub for ICT 5G/4G-driven manufacturing and supply chains.
- 5G is seen as a key enabler for a greener economy, as digital technology is essential to promoting sustainability.
Sanjay Malik, SVP and Head of India Market at Nokia, said
India has seen a massive uptake of mobile broadband based on successful deployment of 4G LTE networks. We believe that 5G will take mobile broadband consumption to the next level in India by will enabling new digital use cases for both consumer and enterprise segments. It is essential that this growth is managed in a sustainable manner while supporting India’s aim to become a trillion-dollar digital economy.