If you thought the highest number of Indian internet users belonged in the cities, think again. ET Telecom reports that by 2020, it will be rural India – not urban – that will house most of the country’s internet users, the majority being mobile-first. The country’s internet users will increase to 730 million by then (up from 330 million fixed and mobile subscriptions in December 2015), and from this, 75-80% of internet user growth will come from rural areas.
Moreover, 75% of new internet users will consume data in local languages, and last-mile connectivity will also be enabled by the government, telcos and technology providers. Further, a 1.7x growth is expected in the financial technology market between 2015 and 2020, with 60% of the adult population using one or more forms of financial services. Finally, fashion and lifestyle will be the largest e-tailing category, with a 35% contribution to e-commerce GMV.
