The number of subscribers using their mobile phones to access Internet will touch 46 million in September, according to a report published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and market research firm IMRB.
This represents a 15 per cent growth quarter to quarter.
According the report, online news is most frequently accessed followed by e-mail; chat and social networking sites.
Dr Subho Ray, President – IAMAI, said, “India is witnessing a healthy growing usage of mobile Internet. The convenience of accessing internet on the move coupled with good tariff plans and connectivity has ensured growth of the segment. Going by the quarter-on-quarter growth, the mobile Internet sector will continue to grow at a fast pace.”
The report said that consumers are paying Rs 389 a month on an average to access Internet services.
This is good news for operators that are struggling with declining Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). Operators get less than Rs 100 a month from a subscriber at present.
There are about 40 million mobile Internet users as of June 2011 of which about 30 million are termed as active users.