How Indians Will Shape the Future of the Web

25 Years of Internet in India: How Indians Will Shape the Future of the Web

 Initially in 1986 ,the Department of Electronics(DOE) ,provide internet connectivity to eight premier institutions like NCST BOMBAY,Indian Institute of Science, and fine Indian Institutes of Technology(IIT) Delhi,Mumbai,Kanpur,Kharagpur and Chennai) .this service was named as Educational Research Network(ERNET).Internet was available only to Educational and Research Institutions.

 Currently india has become 2^nd largetst internet user in the world with 120 million active users.india launched its first step to public internet service through Videsh Sanchar Nigar Limited(VSNL) in 1995.As the countries contribution to its digital transformation ,indias position on internet will have a major impact in near future in digitalization.

The Rise of India's Internet:

- Early days: Slow dial-up speeds of 9.6 kbps, poor quality modems

- Rapid growth: From 10,000 subscribers in first 6 months to 120 million users today

- Digital transformation: Internet revolutionizing sectors like banking, e-commerce, education

 The Road Ahead:

- 5G rollout to bring faster mobile data speeds

- Emerging technologies: Augmented/virtual reality set to transform lifestyles

- Rural penetration: 75-80% of new users expected from rural areas by 2023

- Social media dominance: Indians to be largest user base on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

 Key Factors Driving India's Internet Growth:

- Affordable mobile data and rising smartphone penetration

- Government's Digital India initiative promoting internet access

- Growth of local language content and services

- Increasing adoption by small businesses and entrepreneurs

 India's Potential Impact on the Global Web:

- Driving innovation for next billion users from developing world

- Setting new trends in mobile-first/mobile-only internet usage

- Fueling growth of vernacular content and voice interfaces

- Shaping evolution of social media and digital entertainment platforms

 Current wireless operator and users of internet  in india:

·         Reliance Jio (39.69%)

·         Bharti Airtel (32.95%)

·         Vodafone Idea (19.25%)

·         BSNL (7.94%)

·         MTNL (0.17%)

 Conclusion:

As India marks 25 years of public internet access, its massive online population and unique challenges present an opportunity to reshape the internet for the next generation. From rural connectivity to multilingual services, the digital forces unleashed by India's internet users have the potential to create wide-ranging global impact in the decades to come.