Internet user base grows by 40% to reach 46 million
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 - Press Releases

Mumbai, December 3, 2007 According to the Internet in India [I Cube] Report 2007 published jointly by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB International, the number of internet users in India in the ever user or claimed user category has touched 46 million in September from 32.2 million in September 2006. During the same period, the number of active internet users has reached 32 million.

Commenting on the rapid growth of internet users Dr Subho Ray, president, IAMAI commented, "although a growth of 40 per cent year on year makes us happy, especially since for the last couple of years the rate of growth was between 30-35 per cent, relative to what can be achieved and what needs to be achieved, the growth rate is not very satisfactory". He added, "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 concluded.

According to the report, the growth of internet users is primarily driven by the fact that

1. The number of people who know how to use a computer unaided have growth to 65 million up from 15.8 million on 2000
2. 70 per cent of the PC literates have used the internet some time or the other in their lives.

Mr Mohan Krishnan, Senior Vice President, IMRB and Country Manager BIRD, IMRB, was of the view that the demand for internet still continued to be primarily from the urban areas. Therefore, while the government was justifiably drawing up plans to reach internet to the rural areas, it was also necessary that the urban digital divide should also be bridged with appropriate policy measures.



The cities covered by the survey included Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Patna, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Surat, Nagpur, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Durg, Vishakhapatnam, Trichy, Bellary, Panipat, Trisshur and Jalgaon covering 65,000 households.

Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)
www.iamai.in

The Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is a not-for-profit industry body registered under the Societies Act, 1896. Its mandate is to expand and enhance the online and mobile value added services sectors. It is dedicated to presenting a unified voice of the businesses it represents to the government, investors, consumers and other stakeholders. The association addresses the issues, concerns and challenges of the Internet and Mobile economy and takes a leading role in its development.

The association’s activities include promoting the inherent strengths of the digital economy, evaluating and recommending standards and practices to the industry, conducting research, creating platforms for its members, communicating on behalf of the industry and creating a favorable business environment for the industry.

Founded in January 2004 by leading portals in India, IAMAI in the only specialized industry body in India representing the interests of online and mobile value added services industry.

For further queries please contact:

Dr Subho Ray,
President, IAMAI,
Tel: +91-22-65218635
Email:(www.imrbint.com)

IMRB International established in 1971 is the oldest & largest market rese