Speed is no longer the problem. Streaming works fine at 15 Mbps. Video calls need even less. Even with three screens running in the house, a 1 Gbps connection easily covers everything. For new users, there’s no longer a noticeable leap between 4G and 5G — everything just works.
Network developers are still chasing record speeds, but demand isn’t keeping up. 6G promises tens of gigabits per second, but most apps don’t even reach 100 Mbps. Nothing radically new has emerged that would actually need those speeds.
Even the most data-hungry consumer app — Microsoft Flight Simulator — maxes out around 180 Mbps. That’s just one-fifth of a gigabit. And it’s already considered high. New AI features in smartphones, holograms, and smart home devices all fall well within current limits. They don’t generate the kind of traffic that would strain the network.
Holographic calls are essentially just video from two cameras. Autonomous vehicles rely less and less on cloud processing. Generative AI on mobile devices involves a few prompts and some short video — none of these use cases require tens of gigabits. The networks aren’t under pressure because the pressure never showed up.
Traffic growth is slowing down. Mobile data consumption has been declining by about 6% annually since 2015. Home internet traffic is down 3% a year. The pandemic created a temporary spike, but it didn’t change the long-term trend. People just don’t need to consume more data anymore.
Part of that is because people now spend more time on hobbies that don’t require high bandwidth. Yes, we still watch video — but 4K, once heavily promoted, turned out to be unnecessary for most users. Online gambling, which has grown rapidly in popularity, consumes very little data. Especially games like Plinko and other casino hits that top expert charts. For example, Plinko Games in India are hugely popular — even in areas where fast mobile internet is still unavailable. That’s because the game doesn’t require high-speed connections or heavy data usage.
The irony is that telecom companies say the opposite. Their forecasts — and those from regulators — predict 250% traffic growth or more. But in reality, we’re already seeing a plateau. In developed countries, people don’t need faster speeds. The comfort level has been reached. There’s nowhere else to go.
Equipment makers are laying off staff. Carriers are cutting budgets. New towers are being installed less often. Revenue is flat, and the networks are already built. The industry is shifting into utility mode — where stability matters more than innovation.
It’s not the fastest provider who wins, but the cheapest — just like with low-cost airlines. People choose based on price, not bandwidth. The winning strategy is coverage, simplicity, and customer support — not gigabits no one notices.
The real issue isn’t speed — it’s access. There are still entire regions with no mobile service, villages without internet, and homes where the signal dies behind concrete walls. But solutions exist: satellite internet, improved Wi-Fi, local mesh networks inside buildings.
Governments are rethinking their goals. Instead of showcasing 6G, they’re focusing on universal access. Cheap, stable, widespread. It’s not about peak speeds — it’s about a reliable minimum. That’s what’s missing. And that’s where the investment should go.