Mumbai/Panjim: According to a report by the Centre for Promoting Indian Economy (CPIE India) almost 77 to 79 percent of Goa's population is online and access the internet or world wide web at least 4-7 times a month at the bare minimum. This is more than twice as that of Bihar and some other states. Similarly, nearly 50 per cent of Goans use mobile email apps (like Gmail app) at least 3 times a month and about 80 percent of Goans own an internet and email enabled smartphone, the CPIE said in a statement.

 

According to CA Junaid Shaikh and journalist and publicist Flynn Remedios (formerly a Tech consultant with the Mumbai Cyber Crime Cell and volunteer with the CPIE) - both of whom were associated with the CPIE study titled "Internet Penetration and Usage in Goa", about 90 per cent of Goans (and Goan-based Indians combined) use the YouTube app at least twice a month.

 

The CPIE report on internet usage in Goa is close to that of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), which claimed that for the first time, over a half of the country’s population are now active internet users, though not regularly. According to IAMAI stats, 759 million Indians, out of a total population of 1.4 billion, access the internet at least once a month. This represents a 14% increase compared to 2021, driven largely by growth in rural areas. Rural India added 56 million new users in the past year, while urban centers saw slower 6% growth.

 

In Goa, the CPIE found that since 2019 till date, there has been a 25 per cent increase in internet users in Goa and even Goans above 60 (considered not so net savvy) are now using smartphone enabled internet apps. Growth of smartphone usage in Goa peaked during the Covid pandemic-related lock down as all youngsters in the age groups of 7 to 17 were attending online classes and using smart phones. Many Goan families who did not possess a smart phone were forced to purchase one as their kids had no option but to attend online classes, Remedios noted.

 

India’s active internet base is predicted to increase to 900-950 million by 2025. A majority of new users in India are expected to be women, thus closing the gender gap. Currently, 54% of users are male, however by 2025, women are projected to account for 65% of new users. In Goa 55 percent of internet-enabled smartphone users are men, while 45 percent are women, Remedios said, quoting the CPIE report.

 

Similarly in Goa, UPI-based payment apps (Google Pay, Phone Pe, etc) account for more than 85 percent of all online transactions according to CPIE India. Across India, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the dominant platform, used in 99 per cent of digital payment transactions. The IAMAI highlights the digital divide in India, with Goa having an average of 70 percent of its population online, compared to just 32 per cent in Bihar.

 

In rural or village areas of Goa (Bethora, Panchwadi, parts of Ponda, Priol, Valpoi, Quepem, etc) the internet penetration is only 35-40 per cent as most phone users still use the older keypad phones and do not have email access on their handheld devices. This is however in the age group of 45 to 60, while in the age group of 20 to 45, the usage is much higher.