Report Overview

Growing efforts by several companies to increase the production of 5G smartphones, increasing smartphone adoption and demand for better connectivity, and government’s supportive initiatives for high-speed network connectivity are expected to provide enormous growth opportunities for India 5G Smartphone Market during the forecast period between 2022 and 2030.

India 5G Smartphone Market - Industry Trends & Forecast Report, 2030

India 5G Smartphone Market is projected to grow at a significantly high CAGR of 124.1% during the forecast period between 2022 and 2030. 5G smartphones are expected to account for 35% of total smartphone shipments in India by the end of 2022. This is expected to rise to 53% by the end of 2023. As 5G network was officially launched India in October 2022, a surge in demand for 5G smartphones is expected during the holiday season. During that time, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) focus on multiple 5G smartphone launches. The launch of 5G services in the country is expected to boost demand for smartphones, with cumulative device shipments increasing. Furthermore, nearly 840 million of the total shipments will be 5G smartphones. From 2022 onwards, 5G smartphone uptake will increase year on year, resulting in an increased 5G smartphone sales across India.

India 5G Smartphone Market - Overview

5G smartphone refers to a device having fifth-generation mobile networks (5G). After 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, 5G is a new global wireless standard. 5G enables a new type of network capable of connecting virtually everyone and everything, including machines, objects, and devices. The demand for 5G smartphones in India is expected to zoom. The introduction of 5G, the most widely adopted mobile technology due to its diverse applications, including high-speed gaming and remote healthcare, is expected to be the main driver for the high demand for 5G smartphones. India 5G smartphone market is also growing due to advancements in internet connectivity, an increase in smartphone usage, rising healthcare IT costs, developing IT infrastructure, technology readiness, a growing shortage of healthcare providers, crowded healthcare facilities, and rising medical costs. As internet usage grows, there will be greater demand for smartphones, which will be fueled by the need for the adoption of fintech, e-health, and e-learning. The BharatNet project, which aims to connect all villages in India to high-speed broadband, could increase smartphone sales in the rural areas as well.

India 5G Smartphone Market

Growth Drivers

Growing efforts of several companies to increase manufacturing of 5G smartphones

Companies at the forefront of introducing new technologies have developed a detailed strategy to introduce more 5G products and democratize the new network in India. Realme launched its 5G smartphone in India in 2020 and has since become the fastest growing 5G smartphone brand in 2022. The company has dedicated 90% of its R&D resources to the development of 5G technology and related products. By the end of 2022, more than half of their smartphone launches will support 5G networks. Furthermore, OPPO, a smartphone manufacturer, established a 5G R&D team seven years ago. They have collaborated with industry players and telecom operators to provide the most comprehensive 5G experience for their users, from testing the first 5G WhatsApp video call in 2021 to realize the country's aim of Atmanirbhar (self-reliant India) 5G and supporting India's first 5G call testing at IIT-Madras located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Smartphone penetration in India will deepen as 5G is increasingly adopted. Additionally, HMD Global, a parent company of Nokia brand smartphones, is expanding its operations in India to meet an increasing demand for its products and deploy services. Nokia aims to grow its market share by helping 5G reach every corner and closing the digital divide in the country. According to a research study, one out of every two smartphones sold in India will support 5G. Several companies are working to make 5G smartphones more affordable. Hence, more launches of affordable 5G smartphones could drive the high growth of India 5G smartphone market.

Growing adoption of smartphones and spurring demand for better connectivity

5G network has been developed to meet the growing demand for data and robust connectivity. As the adoption of 5G-enabled smartphones and other devices grows, so will the sale of 5G subscriptions. Several key manufacturers are investing in the development of 5G networks. These factors suggest that India 5G smartphone market is expected to expand significantly in the coming years. Thus, growing smartphone penetration and online-based work and entertainment services are actively driving the growth of India 5G smartphone market. Along with it, a growing demand for an efficient network and increased demand for faster internet are supporting the expansion of the India 5G smartphone market. Work-from-home (WFH) culture has gained more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many industrial sectors—including the IT sector—shifted to a home-based workforce. Growing social media usage, an increased interest in no-buffer video streaming, and other comparable factors are also expected contribute to an increased demand for better internet connectivity and lower data transfer latency in India during the period in analysis.

Government initiatives for high-speed network connectivity

In announcing the ambitious National Broadband Mission, which will require stakeholder investment of INR 7 trillion over the next few years, the Government of India pledged broadband access in all villages by the end 2022. The mission will make it easier for everyone in the country to have an equitable access to broadband services, particularly in rural and remote areas. An additional 30 lakh kilometers of optical fiber cable must be laid, and the tower density must increase from 0.42 to 1 tower for every 1,000 people. The mission is expected to make it possible to strengthen the technological foundation for development, entrepreneurship, health, and education in India. The overall goal of broadband mission is to accelerate the development of digital infrastructure, which will increase demand for 5G smartphones.

Restraints

High cost of 5G smartphones

A 5G chip costs nearly four times as much as a 4G chip, which raises the price of a 5G phone. The OEMs are not launching more expensive phones in India on purpose, because demand for 4G chips, which account for most smartphones in India, is limited. Consequently, it could act as a major restraining factor for the growth of India 5G smartphone market.

Impact of COVID-19 on India 5G Smartphone Market

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the overall electronics manufacturing industry across India. Due to the closure of key countries' borders, the pandemic has also had an impact on global exports and imports of electronics and other products. However, the growing number of COVID-19 cases around the world increased smartphone usage and the need for high-speed networks due to several employees working from home because of a sedentary lifestyle during a lockdown, which is expected to boost the growth of India 5G smartphone market.

India 5G Smartphone Market

Segmental Coverage

India 5G Smartphone Market - By Operating Systems

India 5G smartphone market has android and iOS segments based on the operating systems. The android operating system (OS) segment is expected to dominate India 5G smartphone market with a higher market share during the forecast period. This is because android is available at reasonable prices and 5G smartphone with android OS are affordable for middle class consumers who form the largest consumer segment for 5G smartphones in India. Android phones also have many favorable features, such as always on display, reverse wireless charging, fingerprint scanners, headphone jacks, and split-screen multitasking.

India 5G Smartphone Market - By Sales Channel

On basis of sales channels, India 5G smartphone market has two segments : Online Sales and Offline Sales (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, and Others). The online sales channel segment could account to hold a higher market share during the forecast period, as consumers are using their mobile devices to research products they see in stores, such as product reviews, pricing options, and whether e-commerce platforms or their favorite brand website have certain items with affordable prices in stock. Significant discounts on prices and home delivery option also attract many consumers to buy smartphones through online channels.

India 5G Smartphone Market – By Region

The Prime Minister of India, Shri, Narendra Modi, officially launched 5G services in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on October 01, 2022, ushering in a new technology era. Initially, 5G has been launched in a few cities, and it will gradually expand to the entire country over the next few years. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune are the 13 cities where 5G networks will be launched first. Thus, 5G services are expected to be available in these cities first. Furthermore, Airtel is India's first telecom operator to officially launch 5G services. One of the carriers, Airtel, has now launched its 5G Plus service in eight cities. By geography, India 5G smartphone market has four major regions: North India, South India, East India, and West India.

Competitive Landscape

India 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive, with SAMSUNG India Electronics Private Limited, Infinix Mobiles, OnePlus Technology Co., Ltd., Nokia Corporation, Apple, Inc., Xiaomi Corporation, Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd, Motorola Mobility LLC, Realme, and Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd, as prominent players in the country. Key strategies used by these market leaders are new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, and alliances. To further grow their market share, these companies are also focusing on investing in innovations, collaborations, and expansions.

Recent Developments

• In October 2022 – Samsung announced that it would provide the over-the-air (OTA) update to its eligible 5G smartphones in India by November 2022.
• In October 2022 – Realme formed partnerships with India-based major mobile telecommunication service providers Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea to launch a bundled offer for 5G smartphones in India.

Scope of the Report

 By Operating System

• Android

• IOS

By Sales Channel

• Online Sales

• Offline Sales

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

• Specialty Stores

• Others

By Region

• North India

• South India

• East India

• West India