Lok Sabha Question No. 2376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Mobile Internet Penetration
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2376 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## MOBILE INTERNET PENETRATION

2376. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Mobile internet penetration in rural areas of the country, State/UTwise;
- (b) whether the availability of affordable smart phones and feature phones and better internet connectivity at affordable rates by telecom providers have played a significant role in the adoption of mobile internet;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether mobile internet is predominantly used by youngsters of the country;
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  number  of  urban  users  and  rural  users under the age of 25, State/UT-wise; and
- (f) whether urban areas have around twice the proportion of internet users over the age of 45, while the age group of 25 to 44 has almost equal distribution of internet users in urban and rural areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) Madam, the License Service Area (LSA)-wise Mobile Internet  Penetration  (per 100 population) in Rural areas of the country is attached as Annexure-I .
- (b) & (c) Provisioning of better infrastructure by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), deployment  of  latest  technology,  expansion  of  network,  deployment  of  additional spectrum, consolidation of networks through mergers and acquisitions, competitive tariff plans  offered  by  TSPs  and  availability  of  cheaper  mobile  handset  have  played  a significant role in the adoption of mobile internet. Details are annexed as Annexure-II.
- (d) to (f) The  department  does  not  maintain  demographic  details  in  respect  of distribution of internet users in urban/rural area.

## ANNEXURE-I

| Mobile Internet Penetration in rural India as on 30.09.2018   | Mobile Internet Penetration in rural India as on 30.09.2018   | Mobile Internet Penetration in rural India as on 30.09.2018   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                         | LSA                                                           | Internet Penetration (per 100)                                |
| 1                                                             | Andhra Pradesh                                                | 26.74                                                         |
| 2                                                             | Assam                                                         | 18.78                                                         |
| 3                                                             | Bihar                                                         | 14.93                                                         |
| 4                                                             | Delhi                                                         | 98.03                                                         |
| 5                                                             | Gujarat                                                       | 27.37                                                         |
| 6                                                             | Haryana                                                       | 27.11                                                         |
| 7                                                             | Himachal Pradesh                                              | 43.36                                                         |
| 8                                                             | Jammu & Kashmir                                               | 26.09                                                         |
| 9                                                             | Karnataka                                                     | 27.40                                                         |
| 10                                                            | Kerala                                                        | 31.04                                                         |
| 11                                                            | Madhya Pradesh                                                | 14.84                                                         |
| 12                                                            | Maharashtra                                                   | 27.86                                                         |
| 13                                                            | North East                                                    | 25.66                                                         |
| 14                                                            | Orissa                                                        | 21.55                                                         |
| 15                                                            | Punjab                                                        | 36.60                                                         |
| 16                                                            | Rajasthan                                                     | 24.36                                                         |
| 17                                                            | Tamil Nadu                                                    | 41.98                                                         |
| 18                                                            | Uttar Pradesh                                                 | 15.35                                                         |
| 19                                                            | West Bengal                                                   | 17.80                                                         |

## Details of Mobile Internet Subscribers

| Mobile Internet Subscribers (in Million)   |   Mobile Internet Subscribers (in Million) |
|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Quarter Ending June 2017                   |                                     409.01 |
| Quarter Ending September 2017              |                                     407.88 |
| Quarter Ending December 2017               |                                     424.22 |
| Quarter Ending March 2018                  |                                     472.25 |
| Quarter Ending June 2018                   |                                     490.66 |

Percentage change from June 2017 to June 2018 is  19.96%

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