Urban internet subscriber numbers slide in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Though the world went the digital way during Covid-19, urban internet subscriber numbers both in Gujarat and across India seemed not to have adhered to the trend.
According to the recent performance indicator report issued by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), urban internet subscribers in Gujarat per 100 population stood at 99.34 in December 2021, down from 109.49 in December 2019.
Industry players attribute this to the rationalizing of the number of mobile connections to cut costs, in addition to the migration of populations. The figures cover broadband as well as mobile internet subscribers. “Migration took place at a massive level during the lockdown and many migrant labourers who were working in bigger centres moved to rural areas back to their home states,” a telecom industry source said.
“As a result, urban internet subscribers declined. As offices went into the WFH mode, a huge section of migrants who were in Ahmedabad and other parts of urban Gujarat shifted base to their home states, causing a decline in subscriber numbers.”
At the same time, the number of mobile connections also went down over the period with people cancelling multiple connections due to higher tariffs. Over the past eight months alone, mobile subscribers declined by 30 lakh in Gujarat. The decline in the overall wireless subscriber base is primarily because of the weeding out of non-active users from the network. As a result, the effective number of internet subscribers also went down. Industry players also attributed the decline in subscriber numbers to broadband connections going down.
“Several businesses shut down and small-time traders discontinued their business. For many establishments, the WFH arrangement became permanent,” the source said. “So, many broadband connections were also discontinued due to which the overall internet subscriber numbers went down.”