The ascendency of India as an economic world power

India has a population of over 1,000 million. So, 46 million is roughly 4.6% of the population and this is not huge at all. In fact, according to a report of Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB International, India has now just 32 million active users of Internet.

I found a press release in this regard and it wrote:

According to the Internet in India [I Cube] Report 2007 published jointly by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB International, the number of internet users in India in the ever user or claimed user category has touched 46 million in September from 32.2 million in September 2006. During the same period, the number of active internet users has reached 32 million.

Commenting on the rapid growth of internet users Dr Subho Ray, president, IAMAI commented, "although a growth of 40 per cent year on year makes us happy, especially since for the last couple of years the rate of growth was between 30-35 per cent, relative to what can be achieved and what needs to be achieved, the growth rate is not very satisfactory". He added, "Broadband which would drive more applications, functions and businesses and therefore more users, now really needs to take off in India in order to make the growth sustainable". If the broadband targets are not met in the Year of the Broadband there is a possibility of missing out on creating a virtuous cycle of better connectivity, better content and more users, Ray concluded.

46 million looks like a very but consumer base but you have to keep in mind one thing that India is not a rich country. So, most users do not buy anything in Internet. Well, I still cannot understand one thing that what is keeping the companies from making e-commerce popular in India? Of course, the government has to come forward to support the private sector for developing e-commerce in big cities.

Also read:

50 Million Internet Users in India: Not a Big Market?