Internet services and devices industry has potential to increase its
contribution to up to USD 100 billion (about Rs. 5.5 lakh crore) to
India's GDP and generate about 2.2 crore jobs by 2015, a report by
McKinsey & Company said on Wednesday.
Internet related technology
industry includes personal computers and smartphone sales, e-commerce,
broadband subscription, and investment in technologies like cloud and
websites.
According to the report titled 'Online and Upcoming: The
Internet's Impact on India', Internet generated 1.6 percent of the GDP
or about USD 30 billion in 2011.
"The Internet currently
contributes a modest 1.6 percent to India's GDP. This could grow to 2.8
to 3.3 percent by 2015, if India achieves its potential for growth in
the number of Internet users and Internet technology-related consumption
and investment," McKinsey & Company Partner Chandra Gnasambandam
told reporters New Delhi.
This would increase Internet's contribution to GDP from USD 30 billion now to nearly USD 100 billion in 2015, he said.
"And
while it facilitates about six million direct and indirect jobs at
present, this could grow to 22 million by 2015, if India follows an
inclusive path of Internet expansion." Gnasambandam said.
India
with a user base of 120 million is the world's third largest Internet
market and is poised to garner up to 370 million users in 2015, the
report said.
China has the world's largest Internet user base with 480 million users, followed by US (245 million) in 2011.
By 2015, China is expected to have 583 million users, while the US is expected to have 279 million users.
The global Internet user base is expected to grow from 2,300 million users in 2011 to 2,662 million by 2015, the report said.
"Given
current downward trends in the cost of Internet access and mobile
devices, India is on the verge of an Internet boom. India is likely to
have the second largest user base in the world and largest in terms of
incremental growth," McKinsey & Company Global Institute Senior
Fellow Anu Madgavkar said.
At present, India's information and
communication technology (ICT) exports are the most significant
component of the Internet's impact on GDP, but private consumption and
investment from private and public sector have great potential to grow
in the future, she added.
Madgavkar, however, added that the impact of Internet in India is constrained by the current infrastructure.