Internet usage in Gujarat higher than national average

Data usage per user per month in Gujarat stands at about 13 GB per month, a top official of a leading telecom operator said here on Tuesday. Better penetration of 4G service, higher usage of 4G handsets and the rapid rise of online content is increasing internet consumption in Gujarat, he said.

Taking to media persons in the city, Abhijit Kishore, business head of Vodafone Idea Ltd said that for the company, on an average a mobile internet user consumes 13 GB per month in the state. "The national average is about 10 GB per month," he said. With over 3.07 subscribers VIL is the largest mobile telephony operator in the state. Of these, close to half of the consumers use data and voice, while the other half use only voice service.

Of the internet users, most have now migrated to 4G and there are very few users of 3G in the state. He attributed higher data usage to better penetration of 4G handset, availability of conducive telecom network and the increasing availability of content on the internet for the rise in data usage.

The company is celebrating its first anniversary of the merger of Vodafone India Ltd and Idea Cellular. At the time of merger about a year ago, Vodafone had close to 2.5 crore subscribers and Idea had 1.25 crore subscribers, the said. However, following rationalization exercise, the subscribers have been reduced to just over three crores. It has a 44.6% share in the number of subscribers and 43.2% share in revenues. Jio and Airtel are other 4G telecom operators in the state.

The company is on an exercise to expand and upgrade 4G network in the state. Post merger, the unified entity is also integrating the networks of erstwhile companies. "In parts where integration and upgradation have been carried out, we have improved consumer experience," he said.

The integration and upgradation are expected to bring cost rationalization and improve the consumer experience. The districts that have undergone integration and upgradation include Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kutch, Morbi, Aravalli, Botad, Chhota Udepur, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Dahod, Diu, Gir Somnath, Mahisagar, Narmada, Navsari, Panchmahals, Porbandar, and Tapi. The company expects that by the end of this year, the entire state will be covered.