:-
(a) the percentage of Internet users in India and how does it compare with USA, UK,
Canada, Japan and China; and
(b) the steps taken by the Government to promote internet and other computer
related facilities in the country especially in rural and remote areas?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(DR. SANJAY PASWAN)
(a): The report on penetration/subscription of internet in the country is being compiled
quarterly by Department of Telecommunications (DOT) based on the inputs received from
various Internet Service Providers.
As per the information available from Internet Service Providers Association of
India (ISPAI), as of June 2002, 3.3 million subscribers are registered. Assuming
an average of 5 users per Registered Internet Subscriber, estimated Internet
users in the country is 16.5million. The corresponding percentage will be 1.65
>(for a population of 1 billion). The figures of percentage of Internet Users for
USA, UK, Canada, Japan and China are 58.5%, 55.32%, 53.26%, 39.16% and 2.65%
respectively. Details are placed at Annexure-I.
(b): The Government has taken a number
of initiatives for promotion of internet especially in rural and remote areas in
the country. The details are given at Annexure-II.