71 Million People Claimed to have used Internet in 2009: IAMAI & IMRB

Internet connects everybody with one another and keeps updated with the happenings around the world. According to the Internet in India (I-Cube), 71 million people claimed to have used internet in 2009. The report has been published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and market research leader IMRB.

The Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) - it addresses the issues, concerns and challenges of the Internet and Mobile economy and takes a leading role in its development. Also, its mandate is to expand and enhance the online and mobile value added services sectors.

Whereas, IMRB International ' it is a pioneer in market research and a member of the Kantar Group WPP's information, insight and consulting division. It provides high quality conceptualization, strategic thinking, execution and interpretation skills.

According to the study, active users who use internet at least once a month according the international standards of reckoning, rose from 42 million in September 2008 to 52 million in September 2009, registering a year on year growth of 19 per cent.

This surge in number has been primarily due to the increased numbers of the users in the remote urban pockets (small metros and towns) and among lower socio-economic classes (SEC C, D &E). ). The usage of internet has increased in 2009 as the combined usage of these geographies and classes have overtaken top cities and higher socio-economic classes in numbers. The study clearly signifies that the Internet has reached to remote masses in urban India.

Moreover, the report stated, Internet usage has gone up from 9.3 hrs/week to 15.7 hrs/week, i.e. a steep 70 per cent rise. The reason can be attributed to - innovative content delivery, better applications and its increased use for entertainment purposes, which comprises downloading music or videos, socializing through social networking sites and expressing one's own opinions and views through micro-blogging and user-generated content sites.

Subho Ray, President, IAMAI, commented on the report and said, "While we are happy to note while people in the smaller towns are taking to internet seriously, for a deeper engagement we need to provide them the best innovations in the language of their choice, at an access cost that does not pinch and through a device that they have. Only then this engagement is going to be sustainable."

However, youth continues to drive the surge in Internet use and form major portion of the total users. Among youths, the Internet is primarily being used for searching general information and for entertainment.