Mobile data traffic to triple by 2030 amid slow subscriber growth

The global mobile connectivity market is experiencing a significant shift, with mobile data traffic projected to grow at a 23% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2030, reaching 5,241 exabytes (EB) by the end of the decade, according to ABI Research. This increase is driven by rising demand for bandwidth-intensive services such as high-definition video streaming, immersive gaming, and always-on mobile apps, which require greater network capacity and lower latency. In contrast, mobile subscriptions are expected to grow at a slower rate of 0.17% annually, reaching 5.659 billion subscribers globally by 2030.
Market saturation in mature markets is slowing subscriber growth, while emerging markets see increases due to population growth and greater access to mobile services. However, economic challenges, infrastructure limitations, and smartphone affordability hinder faster adoption in these regions. The growth in data consumption per user is the primary driver of market transformation.
The rollout of 5G networks is a key factor in the data traffic surge, contributing an estimated 2,200 EB to global data traffic between 2025 and 2030. 5G’s faster speeds, ultra-low latency, and support for applications like Augmented Reality (AR) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are fueling this expansion as more users adopt 5G networks. Meanwhile, 4G networks, expected to decline to 1.4 billion subscribers by 2030, will still see data consumption grow at 16% annually. Older 2G and 3G networks are declining rapidly, with countries like Sweden and Israel planning to shut down these legacy networks by 2026.
India is projected to be a major contributor to global data consumption, with mobile data traffic expected to reach 1,275 EB by 2030, driven by population growth, expanding 5G deployment, and affordable data plans. To meet rising demand, operators must enhance infrastructure and focus on network performance, efficiency, and data monetization strategies to support next-generation digital services.
These findings are part of ABI Research’s Network Technology and Market Tracker market data report, included in the company’s 5G, 6G, Open RAN research service.