India accounts for more than half the global Internet users: study

India accounted for more than half of the 500-million new Internet users globally who have come on board in the last three years, a report by software firm Adobe said on Sunday.

According to Mobile Adobe Digital Insights (ADI) 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," the report said.

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 percent since 2014, while desktop traffic was recorded as six percent lower, and tablet traffic stayed stagnant at three percent.

When it comes to app installation growth, the report showed that India led the pack with a 49 percent increase since 2014, in contrast to most countries like the US and UK that have experienced a nine percent and 38 percent 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.

"India continues to possess great untapped market potential and the growth numbers showcase huge legroom for the adoption of mobile technology in a big way," Adobe Managing Director South Asia Kulmeet Bawa said.

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 percent 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 percent 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, Bawa said.