Page 328 - economic_survey_2021-2022

302 Economic Survey 2021-22

Figure 37: Total and Average Wireless Data usage

35000 16
Total Wireless Data Usage (in Petabyte) 20000 0 10 Average Wireless Data Usage (in GB) per data user per month
14
30000
12
25000
8
15000
6
10000
4
5000
2
0

Total Wireless Data Usage (in Petabyte)
Average Wireless Data Usage (in GB) per data user per month - RHS

Source: TRAI

8.63 Over the last few years, telecom sector in India has become data driven and reducing costs
of data due to the fierce competition in the sector. This has boosted data usage even further. Total
volume of wireless data usage increased by more than 7 folds from 4206 petabyte in Q1:FY18
to 32397 petabytes in Q1:FY22. Average wireless data usage in gigabyte (GB) per data user per
month has also increased tremendously from just 1.24 GB per month in Q1:FY18 to a whooping
14.1 GB per month in Q1:FY22 (Figure 37).

8.64 The number of mobile towers has also increased substantially (Figure 38) reaching 6.93
lakhs towers in December 2021, reflecting that the telecom operators have well realized the
potential in the sector and seized the opportunity to build up an infrastructure that will be
fundamental in boosting the Government’s Digital India campaign.

Figure 38: Number of mobile towers (lakhs)

Source: DoT. As in March month of each year.