As per insights derived from Google’s ‘Year in Search – India: Insights for Brands’ report, India is witnessing an internet revolution. A population segment of approximately 40 million Indians are adding to the digital user base annually. Interestingly, this growth rate is one of the fastest in the world, making India a burgeoning digital hub for businesses and consumers alike.
Key Findings
The findings of the report are quite remarkable. It reveals that with around 400 million active internet users, India stands as the second-largest market of internet users globally, trailing only behind China. Notably, the average mobile data consumption per subscriber in the country touches about 8GB each month. This usage capacity is comparable with developed markets and demonstrates the increasing reliance on digital platforms by Indian users.
Another intriguing finding is that nine out of ten emerging internet users in India are likely to be native language users, emphasizing the scope and necessity of regional content. Moreover, Google’s platform has experienced a whopping 270% annual increase in voice searches. Customers across various sectors are swiftly adopting this novel search tool for acquiring information and exploring content. According to projections, the viewer base for online videos will approach 500 million by 2020.
The Outcome of Digital Expansion
Increasing internet use in India promises to bridge the ‘digital divide’ prevalent in the country. As more Indians find themselves comfortable in the digital space, players across diverse digital platforms are likely to embrace a regional content strategy to connect with them at a deeper level.
In addition, this shift towards online services will also prove instrumental in propelling aspects such as digital banking and digital governance.
Some Remarkable Facts
Before delving into the challenges and future prospects, here are some fascinating facts regarding internet usage in India:
| Fact | Detail |
| ——– | ————————— |
| Number of annual new internet users | 40 million |
| Current active internet users | 400 million |
| Average mobile data usage/subscriber/month | 8GB |
| Percentage of new Indian language users | 90% |
| Year-on-year growth in voice searches | 270% |
| Projected audience for online videos by 2020 | 500 million |
Challenges and The Way Forward
Despite this impressive growth, certain hurdles still persist. India’s low data speed, unstable connection, and inadequate broadband penetration act as bottlenecks in the path of digital evolution. To maintain and accelerate this expansion, these infrastructural issues need to be tackled promptly, ensuring sufficient digital safety for both infrastructure and users.
Thus, while India is breaking grounds in internet usage, it is equally important to focus on mitigating the prevailing challenges. Only then will the true potential of the digital market in India be fully realized.