Nokia’s latest report forecasts a significant shift in global network traffic, with artificial intelligence poised to become a dominant force. The ‘Global Network Traffic Report 2026-2035’ predicts that AI will be responsible for approximately 44% of worldwide network traffic by the year 2035. This surge in AI-driven data will more than triple the total global monthly network traffic, reaching an estimated 3,789 Exabytes (EB) by 2035, a substantial increase from 2026 levels.
AI’s Growing Network Demands
The report highlights that future networks will need to cater not only to human users but increasingly to a vast array of connected machines. This growing reliance on interconnected devices, particularly AI agents and other networked machines, will challenge traditional network architectures designed primarily for downstream data flow. The increasing prevalence of AI will necessitate greater uplink bandwidth, reduced latency for faster response times, and more distributed processing capabilities closer to users and devices.
A key takeaway from Nokia’s findings is the projected surge in uplink traffic. By 2035, applications categorized as ‘Physical AI’ – which include real-time interactive robots and connected vehicles – are expected to generate over 90% of their data traffic on the network’s uplink. This contrasts sharply with current network usage patterns.
Exponential Growth in AI Traffic
The report further quantifies the expected growth of AI-related traffic. While starting from a relatively small base, AI agent traffic is anticipated to be 160 times larger in 2035 compared to 2026. Similarly, physical AI traffic is projected to grow by 105 times during the same period. This exponential growth presents a complex set of demands on network infrastructure, requiring a versatile approach that can handle everything from large-batch uploads to continuous, high-real-time connections.
Fixed Wireless Access and Evolving Broadband
Beyond AI, Nokia’s report also addresses the evolving role of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). As the scale of connectivity and data consumption continues to skyrocket, FWA is expected to account for over one-third of total consumer cellular network traffic by 2035. This trend indicates that cellular networks will play an increasingly vital role in the home broadband market, extending their core function beyond traditional mobile services.
The implications of these projections are significant for network operators, technology providers, and consumers alike. Adapting to these future traffic demands will require substantial investment in network upgrades, the development of new architectures, and a strategic focus on enabling technologies that can support the AI-driven and hyper-connected world of tomorrow.
