India's internet users to cross 300 million

The number of internet users in India would reach 302 million by December 2014, registering a year-on-year growth of 32 percent over last year, a study said here Wednesday.

The report, 'Internet in India 2014', is jointly published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International.

The internet in India took more than a decade to move from 10 million to 100 million and three years from 100 to 200 million. However, it took only a year to move from 200 to 300 million users, it said.

According to the report, the number of internet users in urban India has grown by 29 percent from October 2013 to reach 177 million in October 2014. It is expected to reach 190 million by December 2014 and 216 million by June 2015.

Compared to last year in rural India, internet users have increased significantly by 39 percent to reach 101 million in October 2014. It is expected to reach 112 million by December 2014 and 138 million by June 2015.

"In October 2014, there were 278 million internet users in India. Currently, India has the third largest internet users' base in the world but it is estimated that by December 2014, India will overtake the US as the second largest Internet users' base in the world," the study said.

China currently leads with more than 600 million internet users while the US currently has an estimated 279 million internet users.

The report also stated that in urban India, for nearly 93 percent of the respondents, the primary use of internet is for search, followed by online communication and social networking.

However, in rural India, entertainment is the primary reason for internet usage, followed by communication and social networking.