In pursuit of unparalleled connectivity and faster speeds, 5G technology has emerged as a herald of innovation. This evolution, however, comes with a price–both literal and metaphorical.

The chart below illustrating the median prices and data allowances of 5G and non-5G plans paints a clear picture of this dichotomy.

Assessing the same countries as above, this chart plots both the median price and the median data allowance for 5G and non-5G plans for these countries. For our purposes, all plans with unlimited data have been plotted as having 200GB of data.

The blue dots on the chart embody the essence of 5G’s premium positioning. These dots represent 5G plans, which, as the chart shows, consistently command higher median prices compared to their non-5G counterparts. This phenomenon arises from the substantial investments required for 5G infrastructure, coupled with the promise of cutting-edge speeds and seamless connectivity. The blue dots’ upward trend signifies that consumers are embracing the allure of 5G, even as it comes at a premium cost.

In addition, as technology advances, data has become the modern-day currency of communication. A closer inspection of the chart reveals that 5G plans are not just more expensive; they also offer more data volume compared to non-5G plans. For example, the blue dot at the top-right corner of the chart indicates that for a certain country (in this case, the US), for the 5G plans, the median price is €70 with a median data amount of 200GB (unlimited). This tells us that the US 5G plans tend to be more expensive compared to other countries, but also that the majority of them include unlimited data. On the other end of the scale, at the bottom-left, is the orange dot from the Netherlands, where its non-5G plans have a median price of €8.50 and include just 5GB of data.

Taking the average of the values in this chart, our data shows that compared to non-5G plans, 5G plans are roughly 1.5 times more expensive, while including slightly more than double the amount of data. This duality of increased data and heightened cost is a strategic move by service providers to cater to the data-hungry demands of today’s digital lifestyles. The proliferation of data-centric applications, from video streaming to cloud computing, has driven the push for larger data allowances.

The pronounced difference between 5G and non-5G plans underscores a pivotal shift in the telecommunications landscape: though 5G plans were initially introduced as a luxury, high-end service with lofty amounts of data, as we increasingly rely on digital connectivity for work, leisure and communication, the demand for enhanced data and speed capabilities grows in tandem. The continued mainstreaming of 5G plans foretells a future where data is the lifeline of modern living.