The growing use of smartphones and tablets, along with hours of scrolling, video streaming and social media activity, has pushed internet data consumption in India to new levels. Circle-wise data usage estimates show that Bihar is currently leading the country in daily data consumption.
According to the estimates, Bihar consumes around 49.1 petabytes (PB) of data every day, equivalent to nearly 5.14 crore GB. Maharashtra follows with 48.7 PB, while East Uttar Pradesh records 42.31 PB. Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh stand at 42.2 PB and 41.3 PB, respectively.
Interestingly, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data shows that Bihar has the lowest tele-density in the country. Tele-density refers to the number of telephone connections in relation to the population. Despite having relatively fewer connections per capita, the high daily data consumption indicates that people who have internet access are using it extensively.
Where Is the Maximum Data Being Consumed?
Video streaming and social media are among the biggest contributors to mobile data consumption in India. YouTube accounts for around 24.3% of total data usage, making it the largest individual platform in the estimated consumption pattern.
Instagram follows with 21.7%, while Facebook accounts for 17.5%. Google Search and other online activities contribute around 5.2%, while WhatsApp accounts for approximately 3.5%.
| Platform | Share of Data Usage |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 24.3% |
| 21.7% | |
| 17.5% | |
| Google Search & Others | 5.2% |
| 3.5% |
The major reasons behind faster data consumption include video streaming on YouTube and OTT platforms, watching reels and photos on Instagram and Facebook, downloading large files and automatic app updates.
Top Five Circles by Daily Data Usage
| Rank | State/Circle | Daily Data Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bihar | 49.1 PB |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 48.7 PB |
| 3 | East Uttar Pradesh | 42.31 PB |
| 4 | Gujarat | 42.2 PB |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 41.3 PB |
(1 PB = 10 million GB)
Indians Consume 37 GB Data Per Month
The Ericsson Mobility Report released in June 2026 estimates that an average smartphone user in India consumes around 37 GB of mobile data every month. This figure could rise to nearly 70 GB per month over the next five years.
The increase is expected to be supported by the growing availability of affordable 5G smartphones, improved network coverage and rising demand for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services.
According to the report’s projections, India could have more than 1.1 billion 5G subscriptions by 2031, accounting for around 81% of total mobile subscriptions.
At the end of 2025, India had around 430 million 5G subscriptions. Meanwhile, the number of 4G subscriptions, estimated at around 570 million in 2025, could fall to nearly 160 million by 2031 as users increasingly shift towards 5G.
With video streaming, social media, online services and faster mobile networks continuing to expand, India’s overall demand for mobile data is expected to keep increasing in the coming years.