According to IAMAI, there would be 50 crore internet users in villages and 39 crore users in cities by 2025

With an increase in the internet access of rural areas, digital literacy is increasing very fast within the country. In 2025, the number of internet users in villages can increase to 50.4 crores. It can reach 39 crores in cities. The number of smartphone customers in the country can cross 100 crores by 2025. All these are leading to exponential growth in the digital industry.

A IAMAI report has estimated that in 2025, nearly 56 per cent of all new Internet users in India would be rural-based, the Internet and Mobile Association of India said. It will then be a sea change in the country's digital landscape, with rural areas emerging as key contributors of new Internet users. In 2025, it is expected that 65 per cent of new internet users would be women. This is a major step toward engendered equality in digital engagement. According to the report, new internet users in rural areas are likely to increase by 26 per cent by the year 2025, whereas urban areas will grow only by a marginal 10 per cent.

There are 80 crore internet users in the country. Their number is more in villages than in cities. This development underlines the growing importance of rural areas in the country's digital ecosystem. 65 per cent internet users are now getting news through various digital platforms including apps, websites, social media posts, message forwards and YouTube.