India’s 5G Adoption Soars, but User Experiences Remain Mixed: Survey Insights
India’s 5G subscriber base has witnessed a meteoric rise, expanding from 10 million in 2022 to a staggering 180 million by September 2024. This rapid growth is largely driven by the aggressive rollout of 5G networks from major telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. Despite this remarkable progress, a new survey by LocalCircles reveals that while many are enjoying the benefits of 5G, others are facing mixed experiences with the technology.
Key Findings from the LocalCircles Survey
The survey, which collected over 47,000 responses from smartphone users across 361 districts, indicates that 54% of respondents have switched to 5G. Among them, more than half reported notable improvements in data speed and call connectivity:
- 60% of users said they experience faster data speeds compared to their previous 3G or 4G connections.
- 53% of users noticed fewer call drops and enhanced call quality. This is a significant improvement compared to 2023, where only 16% of users felt an upgrade in call quality with 5G.
Mixed Reactions: Not All Users Are Impressed
Despite the surge in 5G adoption, not everyone is satisfied with the service. The survey revealed that 25% of 5G users remain disappointed, mainly due to inconsistent network performance.
- 42% of respondents described their 5G connection as only “slightly faster” than 4G, while only 18% reported “significantly faster” speeds, a slight drop from 22% in 2023.
- Additionally, 30% of respondents found no improvement in call quality, signaling that 5G’s promise of seamless communication still faces hurdles.
Infrastructure Growth and Challenges Ahead
India’s telecom infrastructure received a significant boost following the Department of Telecommunications’ spectrum auction in June 2024, which allocated over 10,500 MHz across eight bands to enhance 5G network capabilities. As the infrastructure strengthens and operators continue to expand their services, the survey points to both opportunities and challenges ahead for India’s digital transformation.
Addressing User Expectations
The uneven experiences highlight the need for telecom operators to focus on resolving performance issues and ensuring a smoother transition to 5G. With 25% of users dissatisfied, it’s clear that while 5G is a technological leap forward, service providers must address network inconsistencies to fully unlock its potential for all users.
Demographic Insights
The survey also shed light on the demographics of respondents: 44% were from tier-1 cities, 33% from tier-2 cities, and 23% from rural areas. The gender split was 67% male and 33% female.
As India’s 5G journey continues, addressing the concerns of the dissatisfied users and managing overall consumer expectations will be crucial to the technology’s success in transforming digital connectivity across the country.
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