Economic Survey 2025: Indians biggest data consumers making the most of world's cheapest rates

telecom

Indians lead the world in mobile data consumption as the country offers the most affordable rates globally, the Economic Survey 2024-25 has said.

The expansion of 5G services, regulatory reforms, and new policies to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure boosted the country’s digital connectivity this fiscal, the survey tabled in Parliament on January 31 said.

As of September FY25, India's average wireless data use per user was at 21.2 GB a month. The survey highlights that India is experiencing rapid growth in telecom sector, driven by the smartphone boom, surging data consumption, and the introduction of technologies like 5G.

India has become the second-largest telecommunications market globally, with over 1.18 billion telephone subscribers, a teledensity of 84 percent, and 941 million broadband users by October 31, 2024.

A significant transformation is underway in India’s telecom technology landscape, transitioning from being an importer to a technology developer and exporter.

Several Indian telecom companies are adopting AI to enhance services, optimize operations, and improve customer experiences. AI is playing a key role in customer support, network optimization, and predictive maintenance, while AI-driven platforms are being utilized for comprehensive telecom network management.

The Economic Survey also underscored India’s achievements in broadband connectivity, particularly through the Bharat Net Project. This initiative, along with other policies aimed at improving infrastructure and the user experience, has significantly advanced digital connectivity across the country. By the end of October 2024, 5G services had reached all states and union territories, covering 779 out of 783 districts, and over 4.6 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) had been installed.

To tackle connectivity issues in rural areas, the government has been rolling out 4G services to uncovered villages and upgrading networks in areas previously relying on older 2G/3G services. As of December 2024, over 7,800 sites had been commissioned, covering 10,706 villages under this project.

In August 2024, the government renamed the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), marking a policy shift that continues to support telecom services in rural and remote areas.

The Bharat Net Project plays a vital role in strengthening digital infrastructure, particularly in northeastern states, border areas, and islands. By December 2024, over 6.92 lakh km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) had been laid and 2.14 lakh gram panchayats made service-ready, including 5,032 via satellite connections.

More than 12 lakh Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections were installed as part of this initiative.

Telecom connectivity in remote regions has improved significantly, with mobile services extending to 1,358 sites across previously uncovered villages and highways in the northeastern states.

Arunachal Pradesh and Assam now have 671 towers covering 1,178 villages, while Meghalaya’s 433 towers enhance connectivity in 622 towns and three highways.

In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a completed submarine OFC project now uses 205 Gbps of bandwidth, while in Lakshadweep, a 1,869 km submarine OFC project supports the rollout of 5G and FTTH services.

The government has also been implementing targeted schemes to improve mobile connectivity in underserved areas. The Border Villages Scheme has extended 4G coverage to 319 villages through 295 towers, and the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) Phase I & II projects have upgraded towers in affected regions. These efforts continue to bridge connectivity gaps, foster digital inclusion, and promote economic growth across rural and remote areas, positioning India as a leader in digital transformation.