Internet still an obscure term in India, says study

New Delhi, Mar 25: Have you ever heard of Internet? As strange and shocking as this question is the fact that a sizeable chunk of India’s population doesn’t know what Internet is! About 72% people in the lower socio-economic strata of the country have never heard the word ‘Internet’, according to a study whose key findings were recently presented to the Cellular Operators Association of India and Universal Services Obligations Fund. The study will be released next year.

Awareness about Internet is clearly more in Pakistan than India. Nearly 36% people at the bottom of pyramid in Pakistan and Thailand have never heard about Internet, followed by Sri Lanka (29%) and Philippines (14%). Even more alarming is that people in urban areas are no better than their rural counterparts. About 67% Indians residing in urban areas have not heard about Internet, against 78% in rural areas. In Pakistan, however, only 24% urbanites are unfamiliar with Internet, against 49% in rural areas.

In Pakistan and Sri Lanka, only 2% and 1% of the population use the Internet, respectively, against less than 1% in India. Thailand rules the roost in Asia region with 10% Internet users, followed by Philippines at 9%, according to the LIRNEasia-AC Nielsen study. The study also revealed that males use Internet more than females. There are twice as many male Internet users in most Asian countries, with the gender divide in Pakistan most prominent (3% male against 1% female). Meanwhile, President APJ Abdul Kalam has dreamt of virtual polling booths, where citizens would be able to cast votes sitting at home.