Categories: Mobile

200 million smartphone users in India by 2016

According to eMarketer in 2014, India had 123 million smartphone users. This will grow to 200 million by 2016. India has been struggling to grow its internet penetration for years, it has been just around 10%. The growth of smartphone user base will bring in the much needed boost to the internet eco system.

China is far ahead of India (seen in the infographic below). The government has to work towards increasing this growth faster in India. The Indian language publisher community strongly believes they can be a catalyst in the growth of internet “usage”.

We do need help from the government of India in growing the internet infrastructure. There is a lot for India to learn from South Korea where the last mile connectivity is owned by the government. Something India should replicate.

According to IDC “Always Connected” report,

The average person checks their mobile device 100 times a day
They check Facebook 14 times day

Most telcos are unhappy with the low data usage of their customers. ARPU in India has to grow. Most telcos are unhappy with the low data usage of their customers.

IAMAI January 2015 Report

According to the Mobile Internet in India 2014 report by IAMAI and IMRB (conducted across 35 cities with more than 1 million population),

The number of mobile internet users in India is likely to touch 213 million by June 2015 from the 173 million in December 2014.
Mobile Internet users in rural India: October 2014 – 37 million, March 2015* – 49 million, June 2015* – 53 million
Mobile Internet users in urban India: March 2015* – 143 million, June 2015* – 160 million.
Primary activity of mobile Internet users in India: Email (74%), social media (61%).
Average mobile bill in India: Rs 387 in 2013, Rs 439 in 2014.
Monthly mobile bill pie: 63% spent Rs 101 – Rs 500, 26% spent Rs 501 – Rs 1,000, 7% spent less than Rs 100.
Percentage of mobile bill spent on mobile internet in India: 45% in 2013 (Rs 173), 54% in 2014 (Rs 235).

India to overtake US as the 2nd largest market for smartphones by 2016

Also see,

Gizbot – for mobile reviews in English & 5 Indian languages
India needs a Minister For Internet

BG Mahesh

Internet application ideator and implementor. Been there and done that since early 1990s. I like to present data to the common man in the simplest manner on the internet.