Internet users in India are growing
with rapid pace. It took 10 years for India to get her first 10 million users
and another decade to hit the first 100 Million. Then the pace quickened. The next
100 Million came in three years between 2010 and 2013, and the third 100
million took only 18 months. Internet users crossed 300 Million in December
2013. By 2018-19, Internet users will reach to 500 Million. A digital population
of 500 Million can transform India’s economy, business landscape, governance,
and society beyond recognition.
Internet users could spawn an
economy worth $200 Million from interrelated activities. This is a four-fold
increase from where we are today and growth will come in three years. By 2018,
every second Indian will have access to Internet. The biggest growth will come in
E-commerce, which will expand five-fold, while education and healthcare via
mobile internet will expand Internet use. Digital Marketing will be the key
method to reach out your business to people via search and display
advertisement.
Internet could also catalyze
entrepreneurship and wealth creation. Global investors are already chasing Indian
startups. With 500 Million internet users it will be equal to the size of
Europe. There are challenges like low bandwidth, but that won’t prevent the
upcoming Internet Tsunami. In each of next five years, India can see a startup
of worth $1 Billion. Internet growth will also lead to massive job creation.
About 4 lakh people now find direct employment because of Internet. This will
expand to 20 Lakh by 2020.
Internet will also improve
governance. According to etaal.gov.in, which tracks internet transactions, E-governance
transactions increased from 0.5 Billion to 1.7 Billion between 2013 and 2014. However,
there are many challenges too. Internet costs can harm Indian population. It
may become very expensive in future. 90% of India’s population use pre-paid
connection with average monthly recharge of Rs 50 to Rs 70 and 3G recharge of
Rs 150. It will be very difficult to sell big data plans and in a huge cost.
More people are going online via
free Wi-Fi or paid access. About 45 Million access Internet in Public areas and
time spent online has gone up from 10 Minutes per day to 45 Minutes now.
Government is also planning to make certain places in Metro cities free Wi-Fi
enabled. So far Internet penetration in India has been in English while for new
users demand for local languages will increase. According to reports, 10% rise
in Internet penetration increases economy by 1.08%. If Internet were a sector
then its weight in GDP would be greater than that agriculture and utilities.
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