'Internet traffic in India grew 74% and 3G usage more than doubled in 2014'

Nokia Networks' Head of India Sandeep Girotra was quoting findings from the company's MBitIndex study

Mobile internet usage in India grew by 74%, driven by 3G traffic, which more than doubled last year, according to a study by Nokia Networks."There has been huge growth momentum of data usage in India on wireless networks driven by 3G traffic. The data usage grew by 74% and 3G usage was up by114% at end of 2014, compared to 2013," Nokia Networks' Vice-President and Head of India Region Sandeep Girotra said.

"On an average a 3G subscriber in India consumed three times more data than a 2G subscriber. 3G is driving the data growth but 2G growth is stabilising. Based on ecosystem, I feel 2G is going to be there in India. Now operators need to further strengthen their 3G network," Girotra said.

The 2G mobile Internet usage grew by 41% in 2014, as per Nokia Network's MBitIndex study. In terms of actual quantum, the total mobile Internet traffic grew to 85 petabyte (PB) at the end of 2014 from 49 PB in 2013.

3G usage is estimated to have contributed 52% in the total data consumption.It is basedon data collected from Nokia Network's reach in Indian telecom network— about30% in terms of network and 70% as device management business. In terms of usage, category A service areas— Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu contributed most to the overall data usage as well as 3G.

The 3G usage in these service areas increased by 129% in 2014compared to previous year. Eight category B circles accounted for second highest data consumption at 30 percent. The 3G usage in these circles grew by 107%. Metros - Delhi,Mumbai and Kolkata - followed category B service areas in terms of dataconsumption. "In 2014, as per industry study, 258 million devices were shipped in India. Out of this 22% were 3G smartphones, 70% were feature phones, 7% 2G smartphones and 1% 4G smartphones," Girotra said.