India to have 243 million Internet users by June 2014: IAMAI

With more and more people accessing the Web through mobile phones, the Internet user base in the country is projected to touch 243 million by June 2014, a year-on-year growth of 28 per cent.

According to the Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the Internet user base in the country stood at 190 million at the end of June, 2013.

For the whole year 2013, the Internet user base grew 42 per cent to 213 million, from 150 million in 2012.

Of the total user base, mobile Internet users accounted for 130 million in 2013, a growth of about 92 per cent from 68 million in 2012.

IAMAI expects the number of mobile Internet users to touch 185 million by June 2014, accounting for about 76 per cent of the Internet user base in the country.

"Year 2013 was the year of Internet. The numbers affirms the fact that Internet in India is now becoming inclusive, which augurs well for the industry and society at large," IAMAI said.

The growth of Internet users has also led to a substantial growth of other digital industries such as e-commerce and digital advertising, it added.

Digital commerce market stood at Rs 8,146 crore in December 2007 and it grew to Rs 47,349 crore by the end of 2012.

At the end of December 2013, digital commerce in India grew to Rs 62,967 crore.
Digital Advertising has also been witnessing a steady growth. The study projects the online advertising market in India to touch Rs 2,938 crore by March 2014.