India to have More than 907 Million Internet Users, which is 64% of Population by 2023

BENGALURU: India will have more than 907 million internet users by 2023, accounting for nearly 64% of the population, according to Cisco Annual Internet Report.

The report has highlighted that devices and connections are growing faster (7% CAGR) than the population (1% CAGR) in the country. This trend has been boosting the growth in the average number of devices and connections per household and per capita.

While there would be 2.1 billion networked devices by 2023; M2M (machine to machine) modules would account for 25% (524.3 million) of all networked devices, according to the Cisco report.

For the past 50 years, a new mobile technology with cutting-edge innovations was introduced each decade, noted the report. Mobile bandwidth requirements have evolved from voice calls and texting to ultra-high-definition (UHD) video and a variety of augmented reality/virtual reality applications. Consumers and business users worldwide continue to create new demands and expectations for mobile networking, according to the report.

“This ongoing trend is clearly highlighted by the adoption and use of mobile applications. Social networking, video streaming and downloads, business productivity, e-commerce, and gaming will drive the continued growth of mobile applications, with nearly 46.2 billion downloaded by 2023,” said Cisco in its report.

Anand Bhaskar, managing director, Service Providers Sales, Cisco India and SAARC, said the combination of increased digital literacy, mobile penetration, and internet connectivity would result in a major shift in internet usage and consumption patterns across the country.

“This rise in connectivity and changing consumption patterns will challenge service providers’ ability to service their customers in an optimal manner. Flatter and more secure networks leveraging cloud and edge computing, as well as automation to manage the ever-expanding network, is essential for them to keep pace in the digital world,” said Bhaskar.

Source: ET

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