Bhopal needs thousands more towers for seamless 5G:Experts say weak indoor coverage and unstable speeds remain major citywide concerns

Bhopal’s digital lifestyle has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past five years, with mobile data consumption more than doubling due to the rapid expansion of 5G services. According to recent reports and data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), residents of Bhopal are now consuming significantly more internet data than before, driven by streaming platforms, work-from-home culture, online learning and cloud-based services. Areas such as MP Nagar, Arera Hills, Kolar Road and Katara Hills have emerged as the city’s biggest data consumption hotspots. From 4G to 5G: A massive jump in data usage During 2020-21, the average mobile user in Bhopal consumed around 11 to 14 GB of data per month. Following the rollout of 5G services, that number has now climbed to nearly 31 GB per user per month in 2025-26, marking an increase of more than 120%. Telecom experts say data consumption on 5G networks happens nearly four times faster than on 4G, significantly increasing overall usage patterns. Bhopal’s digital hotspots and usage trends MP Nagar and Arera Hills: Commercial data hubs In commercial areas such as MP Nagar and Arera Hills, peak data usage is recorded between 11 am and 5 pm. Officials say most of the data consumption in these zones comes from e-learning activities, office operations and the transfer of business-related files due to the high concentration of coaching centres and corporate offices. Kolar Road and Katara Hills: Residential hotspots Kolar Road witnesses heavy nighttime data demand because of its large student and middle-class population. Meanwhile, Katara Hills has emerged as one of the city’s highest data-consuming residential zones due to the presence of IT professionals and government officials. Experts say work-from-home practices and cloud gaming have become major contributors to data usage in the area. Peak pours: When Bhopal goes online Telecom operators say data consumption reaches its highest levels between 9 pm and midnight. During these hours, internet traffic rises by nearly 70%. Families are increasingly shifting away from cable television and relying more on OTT platforms for video streaming and entertainment. Expert says Bhopal still needs 10,000 more towers Telecom expert Dr. Mahesh Shukla, former Director General of Telecom, said that although data consumption has increased rapidly, Bhopal’s infrastructure is still inadequate for delivering seamless 5G connectivity. According to him, Bhopal’s urban area, spread across nearly 450 square kilometres, requires around 14,000 mobile towers or small network sites for uninterrupted and high-quality 5G coverage. At present, the city has only around 4,000 mobile towers. Uneven network experience across the city Dr. Shukla said the shortage of towers is the main reason why network quality varies significantly across different parts of Bhopal. Lower tower density affects internet speed stability and results in poor indoor network coverage in homes and buildings. He also pointed out that approvals for installing new telecom towers continue to face delays due to lengthy administrative and local collector office procedures.