The 5G subscriptions in India are expected to surpass 270 million by the end of 2024, representing 23 per cent of the total mobile subscriptions, as per Ericsson Mobility Report. However, the report noted that 4G continues to dominate, currently accounting for 54 per cent of total mobile subscriptions.

Driven by strong 5G adoption, 4G subscriptions are forecast to decline from 640 million in 2024 to 240 million by 2030, contributing around 18 per cent of total mobile subscriptions.India has achieved large-scale mid-band deployments and is anticipated to reach approximately 95 per cent population coverage by the end of 2024, the report highlighted.

5G services were launched on October 1, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Mobile Congress.The report also noted that the number of smartphone users utilising Generative AI (GenAI) apps is expected to grow significantly over the next five years.

This rapidly expanding category adds to existing use cases such as video calling, streaming, and online payments, for which smartphone users are willing to pay a premium to ensure consistent performance.Around 67 per cent of 5G smartphone users in India are expected to use GenAI apps weekly within the next five years, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report.

Jasmeet Sethi, Head of ConsumerLab, Ericsson, stated: "The latest comprehensive Ericsson ConsumerLab research indicates that as AI-powered applications become more prevalent, users' expectations for enhanced 5G connectivity are rising. Young Gen AI users are already expressing strong demand for more responsive AI experiences on 5G networks. This signals an opportunity for CSPs to meet this demand through tailored connectivity experiences."