India to witness accelerated 5G adoption: Ericsson consumer lab survey

The survey also identifies several 5G use cases that resonate with Indian consumers and are willing to pay a premium for these.

Ericsson today released its report titled ‘5G value: Turning performance into loyalty’ carried out by Ericsson ConsumerLab and explores what drives 5G network satisfaction and user retention.
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.

5G users in India stand out for their high daily engagement with apps, such as streaming HD video,
video calling services, mobile gaming and augmented reality. On an average, they spend two hours
more per week using these services compared to users in other early adopter 5G markets such as US,
United Kingdom, South Korea, China and many others.

Moreover, India's 5G satisfaction levels and perceived 5G availability match or surpass those in early
adopter markets. India boasts a remarkable 13 percent higher share of very satisfied 5G users
compared to the early adopter market average. Overall satisfaction increases by a substantial 30
percent when transitioning from 4G to 5G, with higher download speeds playing a key role in driving
this satisfaction.
The survey highlights that 5G performance in important locations significantly influences user
satisfaction and switching decisions. Users experiencing connectivity issues at event venues are three
times more likely to consider changing service providers in the next six months. Conversely, a
positive 5G experience at key locations, such as in transit or at home, can boost satisfaction by four
times.
Jasmeet Singh Sethi, Head of Ericsson Consumer Lab, says about 39 percent of 5G consumers polled
believed that increased data allowances in their 5G plans would justify premium rate charges from
CSPs.
“Interestingly, about 24 percent of 5G consumers polled express a clear preference for differentiated
Quality of service (QoS) over 5G. Rather than settling for generic, best-effort 5G performance, these
users are actively seeking elevated and consistent network performance, especially tailored for demanding applications and specific key locations. The research shows that one in five smartphone
users are willing to pay an average premium of 14 percent for 5G rich app bundled plans or QoS-led
offerings.”
The survey also identifies several 5G use cases that resonate with Indian consumers and are willing to
pay a premium for these. Some of these services include 3D/AR Books Digital Library, 5G Creator
Package, 5G Optimized Mobile Gaming, Immersive Replays, Enhanced Event Experience etc.
Jasmeet Sethi, Head of Ericsson ConsumerLab, stated: "The findings from our global survey
underscore India's potential to lead the way in 5G adoption and usage. With a substantial portion of
the population ready for 5G, the opportunities for innovation and growth in the Indian market are
immense. Even as app experience is emerging as a key factor in driving satisfaction with 5G, 5G has
elevated the overall network satisfaction in India by an impressive 30% compared to 4G ."

Nitin Bansal, Head of Ericsson India and Head of Network Solutions, South- east Asia, Oceania and
India, Ericsson, says: “Given the rapid 5G adoption in India, the growing data traffic and the launch of
FWA offers by service providers, we expect mmWave to be the foundation for the next wave of 5G
growth the country. Ericsson’s advanced and more energy efficient portfolio being launched in India
will enable the country to meet the capacity and performance requirements of the networks in
India.”

The Consumer Lab Study was conducted earlier this year and represents the views of 1.5 billion
consumers across 28 global markets. In India, the survey reflects the views of 50 million 5G users and
250 million consumers across tier 1-3 cities in India. Globally, 10,000 active 5G users were
interviewed, encompassing 650 million 5G users worldwide.