Mobile Internet users in India to reach 155 million by March: IAMAI

The number of users accessing the web on their mobile handsets in India is expected to reach 155 million by March this year, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

This number is further expected to grow to 185 million by June, 2014.

"The number of mobile Internet users is going to reach 155 million in India by the end of March 2014, and 185 million by June 2014, maintaining a quarter-on-quarter growth of 20 percent," a report by IAMAI and IMRB International said.

At the end of December 2013, the number of mobile Internet users stood at 130 million as against a user-base of 110 million in October 2013.

According to the report, the number of mobile Internet users in urban India is expected to grow from 103 million in December 2013 to 126 million in March 2014 and further touch 153 million by June.

Rural India, though accounting for the smaller share, is also expected to register strong growth, and touch 32 million users in June 2014, up from 27 million in December 2013.

The report also found that the average revenue per user (ARPU) has dropped to Rs. 387 from Rs. 460 in 2012.

However, the percentage amount spent on mobile Internet has gone up to 45 percent in 2013 from 43 percent in the previous year.

Also, 35 percent of the mobile Internet users are spending between Rs. 100 and Rs. 500 monthly on their phone expenses.

While nine percent are believed to be spending over Rs. 500, six percent are spending less than Rs. 100 every month, the report said.