Number of internet users in India swells by 52 mn to 354 mn

03 Sep 2015

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The number of internet users in India increased by 52 million in the first six months of the year, taking the total user base to 354 million as of 30 June 2015, according to industry body IAMAI.

The figures revealed that 213 million (over 60 per cent) of the users accessed the worldwide web through mobile devices.

"Internet (in India) has reached an inflection point. The consolidated numbers affirm the fact that internet in India has now become inclusive, which augurs well for the industry and society at large," the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said in a statement.

The number of internet users has increased over 26 per cent from 278 million in October 2014 and the number of mobile internet users has also grown by about 40 per cent from 159 million users in October last year.

"The internet in India took more than a decade to move from 10 million to 100 million and 3 years from 100 to 200 million. However, it took only a year to move from 200 to 300 million users, it said.

The base had grown to 302 million by the end of 2014 after expanding at the fastest pace of 32 per cent in a year, as per IAMAI. The numbers include users of Google, Microsoft, Facebook, eBay, IBM, Flipkart, Ola and LinkedIn.

Nilotpal Chakravarti, associate vice-president of IAMAI, said the growth in internet usage would be powered by non-metro and rural areas where mobile internet would play a pivotal role.

The advent of low-cost smart phones, coupled with low mobile tariffs, has empowered consumers in the hinterland to use data connectivity and we will be seeing more usage of internet from these areas in the months to come. Also, the increased internet usage will boost digital commerce in India," said Chakravarti.

Coming out strongly against zero-rate plans of any type, Internet and Mobile Association of India said such plans would harm online content and also allow telcos to discriminate against certain web services. (See: IAMAI opposes zero-rate plans under Google's pressure in submission to DoT).

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