Internet Usage through Wireless Networks in India from 2017 to 2024

Wireless data consumption in India has increased by almost 1,150%, from 4,206.42 PB in Q1 2017–18 to 52,636 PB in Q4 2023–24. This enormous growth is a reflection of India’s quick digital transformation after the introduction of affordable 4G services. The monthly usage of wireless data per subscriber increased by approximately sixteen times from 1,248 MB in Q1 2017–18 to 20,270 MB in Q4 2023–24, indicating an even more dramatic shift in individual consumption patterns. From simple messaging and browsing to data-intensive activities like HD video streaming, video conferencing, and cloud gaming, this change in usage patterns reflects a fundamental shift in how Indians interact with digital content.

Perhaps the most striking part of this wireless data revolution is the democratisation of Internet access through significant price reductions. The tariff per GB plummeted from Rs. 17.43 in Q1 2017-18 to as low as Rs. 7.70 in Q1 2019-20 before stabilizing around Rs. 9-10 in recent years. India is now one of the countries with the lowest data costs in the world as a result of this 50% overall drop. The data also reveals interesting seasonal trends and turning points. A steady quarterly growth has been observed throughout each fiscal year, but Q2 2018–19 saw particularly notable spikes as subscriber usage more than doubled from 3,206 MB to 8,320 MB. This is consistent with the market’s intense competition following Jio’s launch and the responses of other telecom providers.

This overall growth trajectory exhibits three distinct phases: COVID-related acceleration (2020–2022), explosive growth (2017–2019), and mature growth (2022–2024). The first phase saw double-digit percentage increases in each and every quarter. In contrast, recent quarters have shown more moderate but consistent growth of roughly 5-7% from quarter to quarter, indicating market maturation. Despite economic difficulties, the pandemic’s effects were clearly evident by the steady internet usage increases in 2020–21, underscoring the importance of digital connectivity during lockdowns. In 2023-24, the quarterly consumption exceeded 50,000 PB, indicating the extent to which wireless internet has permeated Indian society and the country’s economy.