India has officially emerged as the second-largest 5G market in the world, crossing 400 million users in just over three years since the commercial launch of 5G services. The milestone was shared by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia through a post on X.com (formerly Twitter), highlighting India’s rapid rise in next-generation connectivity.
The achievement places India behind only China, which currently has more than one billion 5G users, and ahead of several major global economies.
According to the data shared:
China: Over 1 billion 5G users
India: Over 400 million 5G users
United States: Around 350 million
European Union: Approximately 250 million
Japan: Close to 190 million
India’s numbers underline how quickly the country has leapfrogged mature telecom markets in terms of 5G adoption.
Notably, India was expected to reach 394 million 5G subscribers by the end of 2025, but the country has already surpassed that projection ahead of schedule. This makes India one of the fastest-growing 5G markets globally.
India’s 5G rollout officially began in October 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched commercial 5G services during the India Mobile Congress.
The rollout focused on:
Faster internet speeds
Lower latency
Enabling advanced digital services
Supporting the government’s Digital India vision
Telecom companies showcased real-world 5G use cases, highlighting applications across healthcare, education, manufacturing, and smart infrastructure.
First to roll out Jio True 5G
Focused on Standalone (SA) 5G architecture
Launched Airtel 5G Plus shortly after Jio
Adopted a mix of Non-Standalone (NSA) and SA deployment
Began limited 5G services in 2024
Plans wider expansion in 2025 after securing additional funding
All private telecom operators invested heavily in:
New mobile towers
Fiber optic networks
Standalone and Non-Standalone 5G technology
These investments were critical to handling the surge in high-speed data demand.
India continues to offer some of the lowest mobile data prices globally, even after recent tariff hikes. Many telecom providers have bundled 5G access at no extra cost with existing plans, encouraging users to upgrade without hesitation.
Indians already consume more mobile data per user than any other country, accelerating the transition to faster networks.
According to Ericsson’s Mobility Report (November 2025):
India is expected to reach 1 billion 5G users by 2031
Nearly 80 percent of the population will be on 5G networks
Current average usage: 36GB per smartphone per month
Expected usage by 2031: 65GB per smartphone per month
This sharp rise will further strengthen India’s position as a global leader in mobile connectivity.
Crossing 400 million 5G users in just three years is a landmark moment for India’s telecom sector. With affordable data, aggressive network expansion, and strong government backing, India’s 5G journey is accelerating faster than almost anywhere else in the world.
As the country moves toward the 1 billion user mark, 5G is set to become the backbone of India’s digital economy, powering everything from smart cities and AI-driven services to next-generation manufacturing and innovation.