In Entertainment seems to be the primary driver of Internet use in rural India, according to the preliminary findings of the Internet in India Report jointly published annually by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB.
Out of an extrapolated sample of 7.8 million rural users, 49% used the Internet to download music, videos and photos; 38% used it for email and chats and 27% for education.
In urban India, the pattern of use was dramatically different. While email or communications continued to be the most popular use of Internet, social netowrking seemed to be catchig up rather fast. 71% of internet users in urban India of an extrapolated sample of 28 million users engaged in social networking and 89% used emails. Interestingly, 64% used the Internet for educational purposes.
Commenting on the findings, Subho Ray, President, IAMAI, said, "The numbers make two things very clear: one, the depth of use is very poor in rural India and two, the industry would do well to devise different content and applications for rural and urban India."
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