Mobile internet user base to touch 213 mn by June 2015

The next six months are expected to see India add 40 million mobile internet users, according to a new report by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International.

The number of mobile internet users in India, stood at 173 million in December 2014, and was expected to reach 213 million by June 2015. The rural India user base was expected to grow at 33 per cent to reach 53 million by that time.

"Primary reason for a higher growth on mobile internet user-base in rural India can be attributed to introduction of inexpensive internet enabled mobile handsets, value-for-money plans and need to stay connected etc. Apart from other devices, 78 per cent of the active internet users in urban cities and 66 per cent in rural villages are accessing the internet on their mobile," says the report.

Analysis of the availability of affordable handsets, revealed that the average price of a handset had fallen from Rs 8,250 in 2012 to Rs 7,000 in 2013 and to Rs 6,202 in 2014, according to the study.

The analysis showed mobile phone usage that not only were there more people using more mobile phones, but the share of data usage had grown as compared to basic voice and text functionality.

"Urban India, however, will continue to account for a large percentage of the mobile Internet users across the country and is expected to reach 143 million by March 2015 and 160 million by June 2015," revealed the report.

The report added that the average monthly mobile bill had increased by 13 per cent to Rs439.

Significantly, the proportion spent on mobile internet was 45 per cent last year and had now increased to 54 per cent this year.

As against last year, the average monthly spending on mobile internet had increased by 36 per cent to reach Rs235.