The number of Internet subscribers will cross the 11 million mark by 2003. "The surge in the user-base over the past 20 months was mainly due to the private Internet Service Providers (ISP) policy announced by the union government," Nasscom president Dewang Mehta told reporters here on Monday. Mehta said the union government should bring down the telephone rates for using Internet. Since mobile phones are set to takeover the number of PCs in India, the government should focus on cellular instruments. The centre should also allow usage of voice over IP. "The union railway ministry is planning to set up voice mail boxes at each railway station in order to beef up opportunities for e-commerce in India. Nasscom has requested the ministry for setting up Net dhabas in each centre.

This will provide job opportunities in the rural areas," Mehta said. Around 91 per cent of the corporate India's Websites are located overseas. To access Internet, the state-run Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) spent Rs 250 crore during the last fiscal. "In order to save funds, India should set up domestic Internet exchanges," he added. The e-biz 2000 seminar will help the country achieve a target of 50 million users by 2005. During this period, the e-business transactions may touch revenues of over $50 billion. The survey was conducted by Nasscom in 68 cities and towns in June-July 2000.

These cities and towns constitute 92 per cent of the total Internet users in the country. The survey said there was still current pending demand of additional one million Internet connections. According to the survey, the Internet and e-commerce industry in the country currently employs over 82,000 people and by March 2003 this number is likely to increase to over five lakh. About 36 per cent of the world's population accesses the Internet and India with 3.7 million users accounts for a mere 0.37 per cent. The age group amongst Internet users in the country, 49 per cent of Internet access in India, was most widespread amongst the 18-24 year age group followed by 28 per cent in 25-39 year age group.

The survey said the profile of Internet users in India is dominated by the professional segment which accounts for 43 per cent of the usage, the student community constitutes 38 per cent of the users and house-wives account for four per cent.