Forum Discussion
5G definitely eating more data
Yes, 5G can use more data than 4G, also battery power, especially if the faster speeds of 5G mean you alter the way you use your phone, using it for data intensive activities.
Even on 4G, a monthly data allowance of 4 GB of data isn’t a lot. If you use your phone to watch video, stream music, then 4 GB of data will be used pretty quickly.
Personally, I would say 10GB per month is the minimum data amount people need these days, better still 15 GB, which is 500 MB per day.Don’t forget though, that you don’t have to use 5G, you can set your phone to just 4G if you wish.
https://usave.co.uk/mobile/does-5g-use-more-data-than-4g/
Agree with JJP2, although we have 5G available, it is built upon (and relying on) the architecture of 4G (LTE) services and therefore with this amalgamation of networks/frequencies you will notice speed gains and greater reliability so therefore you might spend more time connected to it and using it for things that consume more data e.g. apps, video streaming and even AI or virtual reality. Apps today are also always not 'data-saving' .. they 'want' to use more data so that the viewing experience is not compromised.
Ofc individual usage patterns will still vary, I think the main factor is probably speed - it takes you less time to download something and therefore allows you to quickly move onto the next thing and so on. Personally, I have a 16GB plan and I tend to favour using data saving measures in apps when out and about.
Another thing to consider is that over time, 5G is becoming more reliable, you'll spend less time connected to Wi-Fi when out and about leading to more data usage; favourable for mobile networks but not so much on your data allowance! I read somewhere that the average data usage according to Ofcom has now reached ~5.6GB per month.
Spot on jassingh
Ofcom reckon average data use is 5.6 GB a month ? I think that have woefully understated that. I can use around 2 GB a day on my phone, although I appreciate I would be called a heavy user.
JJP2 Yeah, I was just looking into some kind of 'average' value and they produce a communications market report each year with findings based on data they've collected about mobile network usage inc. with Wi-Fi. In 2022 it mentioned usage around 5.6GB and for 2023 they state 8.0GB (compared to 4.5GB in 2021). They also have values for fixed broadband usage as well. Though it may well be this is factoring light-medium users for sure.
