Internet user base in India more than doubles to 76.5 crore in 5 years: Nokia MBiT report – Times of India

NEW DELHI: With one of the lowest data tariffs in the world, internet users in India have more than doubled to 76.5 crore users over the past five years with a massive 6.5 times growth in 4G data traffic.
According to the Nokia annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) report, 4G services contributed 99% to the country’s data consumption and are expected to continue as a broadband growth engine for the next few years even as 5G rolls out later this year.
“Mobile data usage CAGR (compound annual growth rate) has gone to 53% over 2017 to 2021 and average data used by consumers per month basis is three times and gone to 17 GB per month per user. Mobile broadband users have grown 2.2 times in the last 5 years. All the perspectives of data usage have shown substantial growth in India,” Nokia’s India head Sanjay Malik said.
According to the report, India recorded the highest-ever shipment of more than 16 crore smartphones, including three crore 5G devices in 2021.
The report said that millennials are now spending around eight hours per day online.
Nokia head for customer marketing and communications for India, Amit Marwah said that consumption of short video format, increase in penetration of smartphones in rural areas, time spent by millennials on mobile and regional content are driving data consumption across the country.
According to the report, 4G services contributed 99% of the total broadband that is consumed in India.
The report shared third party estimates which forecasts that by 2026, mobile 5G services are forecasted to generate $9 billion in revenues.
Marwah said fixed broadband wireless connections have taken a leap over the last 2 years which also shows that fixed wireless will be a popular technology even as 5G services are rolled out.