31 million Indian users could upgrade to 5G phones in 2023: Ericsson survey

31 million users in India seen upgrading to 5G phones in 2023: Ericsson survey

As many as 31 million users in India are expected to upgrade to 5G phones in 2023, a global Consumer Lab survey carried out by Ericsson has found.

The study, conducted between May and June 2023, involved interviews with over 37,000 consumers across 28 countries, reflecting the opinions of approximately 1.5 billion consumers, including 650 million 5G users.

As per the report published on October 3, 5G has elevated the overall network satisfaction in India by 30 per cent compared to 4G. "According to the study, based on tech attitudes and affordability, 31 million users could upgrade to 5G phones in 2023. This presents a vast opportunity for further 5G adoption in the country," Jasmeet Sethi, Head of ConsumerLab, Ericsson Research said in a press briefing during the release of the report.

Indian consumers, the report says, are by far the most data-hungry consumers in the whole world.

5G users in India stand out for their high daily engagement with apps, such as streaming high-definition video, video calling services, mobile gaming and augmented reality.

On average, they spend two hours more per week using these services compared to users in other early adopter 5G markets such as the US, the UK, South Korea, China and many others, as per the report. There are at least 15 percent more daily 5G users in India using mobile applications than in any other early adopter markets, the report added.

"Further, India's 5G satisfaction levels and perceived 5G availability match or surpass those in early adopter markets. India boasts a remarkable 13 per cent higher share of very satisfied 5G users compared to the early adopter market average," as per Sethi.

The report has identified a key trend stating that 5G network satisfaction drivers are evolving beyond coverage. New 5G users still value 5G outdoor coverage and speed. In markets where 5G population coverage exceeds 80 percent, long-time users prioritize video quality and upload speeds for the apps they use, reflecting evolving expectations.

As per the report, as many as 52 percent of Indian users are very satisfied with their 5G overall network connections offering them higher speeds when compared to 4G.

"This is in line with all early adopter markets which have lesser expectations when the product is only being launched," Sethi added.

While advanced markets such as the US and South Korea have moved from download to upload speed, Indian early adopters are putting app experience at the forefront, says Sethi.

As per Nitin Bansal, Head of Ericsson India, Indian users have been putting video streaming and video calling experience along with voice clarity over calls at the same level of expectations.

India has had the fastest 5G rollout with 100 percent Made in India for India and has the highest average monthly usage per smartphone of 26GB per month, the report reveals.

"India set to experience a rising data demand in next few years," Bansal added.