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Report: 5G tariffs offer better value than 4G

February 17, 2025

Point Topic has compared the average monthly subscription charges, data caps and download speeds offered by mobile broadband providers across the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland.

The findings highlight a decreasing number of 4G only tariffs as most operators are approaching high 5G network coverage. In Q4 2024, the dataset included 317 4G only tariffs and 810 5G tariffs (of course, 5G speeds will not be available everywhere even on 5G tariffs).

Key findings:

  • On average, 5G tariffs continue to offer better value for money than 4G both in terms of cost per GB of data and cost per Mbps (bandwidth).

  • In Q4 2024, the average residential 5G tariff in Europe was $50.11 (€47.82) PPP, down from $52.22 PPP recorded in Q3 2024. It varied from $87.89 PPP in Malta to $8.29 PPP in Romania.

  • The average 5G data cap in Europe was 535GB, down from 550GB in Q3 2024. It varied from 1,000GB / unlimited data in Romania, Finland and Malta to 113GB in Belgium.

  • The average residential 4G tariff in Europe was $37.87 PPP, up slightly quarter-on-quarter from $£37.74. It varied from $76.37 PPP in Norway to $6.58 PPP in Romania.

  • The average 4G data cap was 396GB, up from 371GB in Q3 2024. It varied from unlimited data (1,000GB) in Finland, Switzerland, Spain and Greece to 25GB in Estonia.

  • The average European cost per GB was lower on 5G plans ($0.12 PPP) compared to 4G tariffs ($0.27 PPP) (residential tariffs). This indicator stayed the same on 5G while on 4G it has gone up from $0.20 PPP that we recorded in Q3 2024.

  • The European average 4G business tariff was $38.58 PPP, having dropped from $40.61 PPP in Q3 2024. For 5G the average business tariff was $54.46 PPP and stayed exactly the same as in the previous quarter.

Categories: 5G, Articles, Markets, Mobile, Research

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