India to have 185 million mobile Internet users by June 2014: IAMAI
Mobile Internet is expected to become a big thing in 2014. A report says the number of mobile Internet users in India will reach 155 million by March 2014.
By June 2014, India will have about 185 million users accessing Internet through their mobile phones. According to the latest report by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International, the numbers will reach 155 million in India by the end of March 2014, registering a quarter-on-quarter growth of 20 per cent.
According to the report, growth in rural India is going to play a key role, as it is expected to see a growth to 32 million users (in June 2014) from 27 million in December 2013. It’s notable, the number of mobile internet users in India stood at 130 million at the end of December 2013, against a user base of 110 million in October 2013.
The IAMAI report points out average revenue per user (ARPU) has dipped to Rs. 387 from Rs. 460 in 2012. But, share of money spent on mobile Internet has increased to 45 percent in 2013, from 43 percent in the previous year.
About 35 percent mobile Internet users are spending between Rs. 100 and Rs. 500 monthly as their phone expenses. The report says about 9 percent are spending over Rs. 500, while 6 percent are spending less than Rs. 100 per month.
The latest report corroborates IAMAI’s previous report on massive growth of Internet. In a report released in November 2013, the research firm had predicted India will have more than 243 million Internet users by June 2014 and will overtake US as to becomes the world’s second largest Internet base after China. Also read: India now has the world’s third largest Internet population
Source: ET, Image courtesy: Businessreview