India to cross 300 million Internet users by Dec'14; says IAMAI

The number of Internet users in India would reach 302 million by December 2014, registering a Y-O-Y growth of 32% over last year, according to a report ‘Internet in India 2014’, jointly published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International, today. 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. Clearly, Internet is mainstream in India today.

In October 2014, there were 278 million internet users in India. Currently, India has the third largest internet users’ base in the world but it is estimated that by December 2014, India will overtake the US as the second largest Internet users’ base in the world. China currently leads with more than 600 million internet users while the US currently has estimated 279 million internet users.

According to the report, the number of internet users in urban India has grown by 29% from October 2013 to reach 177 million in October 2014. It is expected to reach 190 million by December 2014 and 216 million by June 2015. Significantly, compared to last year, in rural India, Internet users have increased by 39% to reach 101 million in October 2014. It is expected to reach 112 million by December 2014 and 138 million by June 2015.

The report further finds that there is a huge spurt in the number of people accessing Internet on a daily basis in Urban India. As on June 2014, 31.5 million (61%) in 35 cities were using Internet on a daily basis. The daily user base has gone up by 51% from June 2013. 96% of the Internet users are accessing Internet at least once a week. Out of these, 18% access Internet 4 to 6 times a week and 14% access Internet 2 to 3 times a week.

The report also finds that in urban India, for nearly 93% of the respondents, the primary use of Internet is Search, followed by Online Communication and Social Networking. However, in rural India, Entertainment is the primary reason for internet usage, followed by communication and social networking.

According to the report, the number of mobile internet users has also witnessed a steady rise, with 159 million mobile internet users in October, and is estimated to reach 173 million by the end of December. In October, there were 119 million users accessing the Internet on mobile devices, in urban India. Rural India is not that far behind in this regard with a base of 40 million mobile Internet users in October 2013.

 

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