'Only 6 percent of Indian mobile users over 50 years'

Data from four Asian markets, released by the Telenor Group, indicates senior citizens are not fully receiving the benefits of mobile internet, while out of the total mobile phone users in India, only 6 percent are over 50 years of age.

"A demographic breakdown shows that only 10 percent of Uninor's subscribers in India are over 45 years of age. Meanwhile, of the total mobile phone users in India, only 6 percent are over 50 years of age," a company statement said here on Thursday.

Uninor is a fully-owned subsidiary of Norway-based Telenor Group.

"This difference is exacerbated for mobile data users, with only 1 percent being 50 years or older. Generally, non-data users have a lower income profile and higher age than the average mobile user," the statement said.

The research note "The unconnected senior citizens of Asia" draws upon customer data from four Telenor markets - India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

"The findings suggest that the senior segment in some of these markets represent as little as 2 percent of active mobile users, with still fewer using smartphones," it stated.

"Given our vision of internet for all, it is a source of concern for Telenor that senior citizens in our Asian markets are not fully receiving the benefits of the mobile internet," said Sigve Brekke, executive vice president and head of Asia operations, Telenor Group.