India to have 70-80 million 5G phones by year-end

India will have 70-80 million 5G smartphones by the end of 2022 as brands double down on the next gen technology with spectrum auctions around the corner.

While the present average selling price of 5G phones is Rs 32,000, brands are striving to push more devices in the Rs 10,000-15,000 range by the end of the year to cater to a larger mass of consumers and push smartphone adoption.

Research firm IDC predicts that one in two devices shipped in India this year will support 5G, Counterpoint Research puts it at just less than 40% of the overall shipments. At the end of March, 5G smartphones were 29% of total smartphone shipments, according to Counterpoint.

India is set to auction 5G spectrum starting late July, with services expected to start rolling out by end of the year. An OMDIA report said 5G will account for more than 20% of mobile subscriptions in the country within three years.

Navkendar Singh, Research Director at IDC India, said, “Above Rs 15,000, 4G doesn't fly now as the market has moved to 5G. Below Rs 10,000, I don't think 5G would be possible. So, the Rs 10,000-15,000 segment is the only place where you will see that the brands might be able to bring new 5G devices because there is enough capacity.”