India 5G smart phone shipments soar to 87%, ranks 14th spot globally
By Anjali Sharma
NEW YORK – The share of 5G handsets in the smartphone shipments in India on Friday surged to 87 per cent, underscored the rapid adoption of next-generation mobile technology.
India has climbed to the 14th position globally in terms of 5G share of total smart phone shipments according to Counterpoint Research.
In H1 2023, the share stood at 47 per cent, placing the country at the 40th spot. The shift accelerated in 2024 and has now firmly established 5G as the mainstream segment of India’s smart phone market.
The 5G smart phones accounted for 71 per cent of shipments in H1 2025, driven by consumer demand, wider network rollouts, and affordable devices.
Asia remained the largest 5G smart phone market, though adoption in some countries continues to lag.
Pakistan, ranked 7th largest smartphone market in Asia, is yet to roll out 5G services, with spectrum auctions repeatedly delayed since 2021 due to high costs and weak infrastructure.
Bangladesh is the countries with low adoption. In these markets, 4G networks are expected to dominate until at least 2030, the report noted.
In Latin America, the 5G shipment share reached over 41 per cent in H1 2025.
Venezuela recorded the lowest globally at just 1 per cent, despite the launch of its first 5G Fixed Wireless Access service in June 2025. Economic crisis, hyperinflation, and sanctions have left most Venezuelans reliant on 3G and 4G devices
The research stated that 6 of the bottom 10 countries with the lowest 5G shipment shares are in Africa, highlighted a persistent gap in adoption across the continent.
