India's Internet Subscriptions Surge to 970 Million

Internet subscriptions in India have more than tripled in the past decade, reaching 970 million. Smartphone ownership has driven this growth, with over one in three Indians owning a smartphone before the pandemic. In Karnataka, fewer than 10 percent of households own a computer, making smartphones the primary access point for internet services. Owning a smartphone is considered a sign of social wealth and affluence. Before the pandemic, only one in three Indians owned a smartphone, but now 74% of Indian internet users engage with social media, messaging, and streaming services. Indians spent over one trillion hours on smartphones in 2024, primarily on social platforms, gaming, and watching videos. India is the world's second-biggest smartphone market after China.