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Internet usage in India is booming but still the country ranks the lowest among Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations when it comes to home Internet access. According to a survey done by research based strategic consulting firm Gallup, only 3 per cent of the country’s population had access to home Internet in 2011.
In contrast, the world’s second largest economy — China — falls in an entirely different category, with 34 per cent reporting home Internet access, which is at par with the global average.
Emerging economies
Among the other emerging economies, Russia and Brazil are on the higher end at 51 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, while South Africa is on the lower end at 16 per cent.
Access in Sweden and Singapore is highest worldwide, both countries are tied with 93 per cent of residents reporting home Internet access, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands, where more than nine in 10 do.
It said worldwide, 32 per cent of adults in 2011 reported having home Internet access, according to surveys conducted in 148 countries.
This is up from 29 per cent in 2010 and 25 per cent in 2009, marking the continuation of a steady uptick each year that Gallup has conducted surveys worldwide.
These results reflect responses to a core Gallup question — “Does your home have access to the Internet?” — asked of adults worldwide. The results reflect the percentage of adults who answered yes, rather than the percentage of households in a given country with Internet access.
Additionally, it is possible that adults have access to the Internet through other means, including schools and universities, public libraries, Internet cafes and smartphones. In the case of smartphones, it is possible some respondents consider this home Internet access while others do not, said the Gallup report.
The results of the survey are based on telephone or face-to-face interviews with at least 1,000 adults in each country, aged 15 and older, conducted in 2011.
>ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in
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