India becomes the world's second-largest 5G market, surpassing 400 million users

Leading network system

India has officially become the world's second-largest 5G market , with over 400 million users now connected to the next-generation mobile network , according to recent reports. The current figures are as follows:

• Total number of 5G users : >400 million (as of January 2026)

• Global ranking: 2nd (after China with over 800 million users)

• 5G base stations: over 500,000 stations in operation (Reliance Jio leads with approximately 60% market share)

• Coverage: Approximately 98% of the urban population and approximately 85% of the total population.

• Data consumption growth rate: 5G users consume 3-5 times more data than the average 4G user.

This achievement marks one of the fastest 5G deployments in history — from virtually zero commercial coverage in early 2022 to over 400 million users in less than four years — and underscores India's rise as a global digital powerhouse.

How did India expand so rapidly?

The expansion of 5G networks in India has been driven by a combination of coordinated policies, strong capital investment, and competitive dynamics within the telecommunications sector. Major carriers have deployed nationwide coverage early on, prioritizing access to the general population over piecemeal deployments in urban areas.

Government support plays a crucial role, from the rational allocation of spectrum to infrastructure sharing policies that help mitigate deployment difficulties. Unlike previous generations of mobile technology, 5G in India is considered a national digital infrastructure, rather than a premium add-on service.

Economic and industrial significance

Nationwide 5G coverage strengthens India's position as a hub for digital manufacturing and consumption. Faster and more reliable connectivity helps reduce transaction costs across all sectors , from manufacturing and agriculture to services and logistics.

For startups and businesses, this helps reduce barriers to building real-time, data-intensive products for hundreds of millions of users. For multinational corporations, India's network scale makes the country a preferred market for testing and deploying next-generation digital services.

India's 5G expansion is particularly crucial for technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, blockchain-based services, and digital identity systems. Many of these systems rely on low latency, high bandwidth, and continuous connectivity.

Our perspective

India's rise to become the world's second-largest 5G market with over 400 million users represents a structural transformation in global digital infrastructure. This reflects not only technological progress but also a strategic intention to build a network capable of supporting a population-scale digital economy.

As 5G becomes the default layer for commerce, communications, and computing, India's early and aggressive deployment has positioned the country as one of the most influential digital markets in the next decade – not just in terms of scale, but also in terms of impact.

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Compiled and analyzed by HCCVenture

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