India surges to 2nd largest 5G market with over 400 million users

India surges to 2nd largest 5G market at a pace few countries have matched, underscoring the scale of India’s telecom transformation since the commercial rollout of 5G services in 2022. The country now trails only China in total 5G subscribers, placing it ahead of major markets such as the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Government data shows that next-generation networks now cover nearly 99.6% of India’s districts and reach around 85% of the population. This rapid expansion has been powered by the deployment of approximately 4.69 lakh base transceiver stations, making India’s rollout one of the fastest in the world.

The milestone reflects how quickly 5G has moved from a high-profile launch to everyday usage. India surges to 2nd largest 5G market far earlier than earlier industry projections had suggested, driven by aggressive infrastructure investment and strong consumer demand. Telecom operators rolled out services at scale, supported by expanding fibre networks and a mix of standalone and non-standalone architectures.

Affordability has played a crucial role in adoption. Despite recent tariff hikes, mobile data in India remains among the cheapest globally, encouraging users to consume more data and upgrade to newer network technologies. As a result, data usage per smartphone continues to rise at one of the fastest rates worldwide.

Beyond cities, rural connectivity has also strengthened. Rural telephony growth has outpaced urban expansion over the last decade, highlighting how digital access is spreading beyond metros. At the same time, total internet connections in India have crossed the 100-crore mark, reflecting the growing reliance on mobile networks for everyday services.

India surges to 2nd largest 5G market at a time when the country is also pushing for technological self-reliance. Indigenous telecom infrastructure has gained momentum, with India becoming one of the few nations to develop its own 4G network stack that can be upgraded to 5G. Parallel efforts under the Bharat 6G Mission aim to prepare domestic industry and research institutions for future standards.

Looking ahead, industry forecasts suggest sustained growth. India surges to 2nd largest 5G market today, but subscriber numbers are expected to climb significantly over the next decade as smartphone penetration rises and enterprise use cases expand across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

The achievement highlights how telecom infrastructure has become a cornerstone of India’s digital economy. With scale, speed, and indigenous capability converging, the country’s 5G journey is setting benchmarks for other emerging markets.