52% users in India spend least time on Internet: Ericsson

New Dehi: India has about 52% of consumers who spend the least amount of time on the Internet even as 56% of them say it’s easier to find products and services online than through friends and family, a study by Swedish telecom gearmaker Ericsson said.

According to a study by Ericsson ConsumerLab, 52% are in the un-networked group, one that carves out the least number of hours for the Internet. Only one in five of the un-networked group uses the Net, and they do so quite infrequently (less than weekly), the study pointed out.

Globally, the un-networked group comprises 18% of consumers. The group includes more females than males with a high representation of 40-59-year olds. The number of devices owned is the lowest, with an average of only a single device, the study said.

However, 56% of the un-networked group in India said it is a much easier job to find products and services on the Internet than through friends and family.

Globally, 82% of consumers are moving towards a networked lifestyle, with Netizens leading the way, the study said. In India, percentage of Netizens stood at 48%.

The data, Ericsson said, has been gathered through 45,290 face-to-face and online interviews with users aged 15-69 years, representing 1.2 billion people across 24 countries including Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US.

The study examines varying perceptions of a networked lifestyle among consumers at the opposite end of the spectrum: Netizens who own on average at least three connected devices, use the Internet for at least one hour a day and rely on around seven digital services daily.

In contrast, un-networked consumers own on an average one device and use the Internet no more than once a week, if at all.

The study said that based on research in 24 countries, about 43% believe that development and a wider use of technology have helped in creating high-quality products and services in their country.

“Forty-one per cent state that technology has helped them reach out to more people in the world and understand global developments, making geographical boundaries irrelevant.

Around 31% mention that their buying habits have changed a lot over the past 5 years, with most purchases carried out online,” it added.

PTI