Internet user base grows by 40% to 46 mn

For the first time ever, the internet user base in India grew by over 40% on a year-on-year basis to touch 46 million in September 2007 from 32.2 million in 2006. During the same period, the number of active internet users (those who regularly surf the web) has reached 32 million, according to the Internet in India [I Cube] Report 2007, published jointly by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International.

Subho Ray, president, IAMAI, said: "Although a growth of 40% year-on-year makes us happy - given that for the last couple of years the rate of growth was between 30-35% - the growth rate is not very satisfactory relative to what can be achieved and what needs to be achieved."

The report notes that growth of Internet users is primarily driven by the fact that the number of people who know how to use a computer unaided has grown to 65 million up from 15.8 million in 2000. Besides 70% of the PC literates have used the internet some time or the other in their lives.

"Broadband which would drive more applications, functions and businesses - and therefore more users - now really needs to take off in India in order to make the growth sustainable. If the broadband targets are not met in the Year of the Broadband, there is a possibility of missing out on creating a virtuous cycle of better connectivity, better content and more users," Ray said.

Mohan Krishnan, senior vice president, IMRB and country manager BIRD, IMRB, opined that the demand for the internet continued to be primarily from urban areas. Therefore, while the government was justifiably drawing up plans to reach internet to rural areas, it was also necessary that the urban digital divide should also be bridged with appropriate policy measures.