India has accounted for more than half of the 500 million new internet users globally come on board in the past three years, according to a software firm Adobe.
According to Mobile Adobe Digital Insights Report, India has a strong position in driving momentum of smartphones and number of new internet users globally and in the Asia Pacific region.
The report, based on the global analysis of 1.7 trillion visits to more than 16,000 websites between January 2014 and January 2017, found that smartphones were the source of 500 million new internet users globally.
Within this, India delivered a staggering 268.9 million new consumers.
This was followed by China and Indonesia that accounted for 97.4 million and 15.7 million new internet visitors respectively, it added.
The report said smartphone traffic in India increased by 290% since 2014, while desktop traffic was recorded as 6% lower, and tablet traffic stayed stagnant at 3%.
When it comes to app installation growth, the report showed that India led the pack with a 49% increase since 2014, in contrast to most countries like the US and UK that have experienced a 9% and 38% decrease in the use of apps respectively.
Smartphones are allowing millions of people to access the internet, who otherwise might never have had the opportunity.
India has latched on to smartphones and outpaced many affluent countries around the world in internet usage, which is representative of the country s drive towards digital transformation.
The report found that consumers in developing countries are bypassing desktops and laptops and going straight to smartphones to access the internet. These regions have 34% higher smartphone-share growth, compared with affluent nations.
According to the report, India, which already has a high share of internet smartphone traffic, is showing no signs of slowing growth.
With a forecast of 46% of the world's smartphone share by 2018, India's rapidly expanding digital story continues to present a massive opportunity for marketers.
Organisations focused on delivering compelling customer experiences and leveraging this strong penetration of mobile to amplify their marketing efforts are likely to gain a competitive edge in the long run.
