India has 554.8 million mobile users and 143.2 million unique Internet users, according to a study, India Mobile Landscape 2013 released by research firm, Juxt. The study estimates that around 94.7 million users access internet from their desktop/laptop, smart TV or mobile data connections such as GPRS/EDGE and 3G together. These number notches up to 143.2 million if one adds the number of users who also access Internet through operators’ portals such as Airtel Live and Reliance R World.

These user, called on-deck users, have limited access to data services such as ringtone downloads, game downloads, video downloads etc but do not use the regular internet using a browser or an app. In fact, they use Internet without often realizing that they are using it.

According to the report, India has 23.8 million individuals who access Internet from their mobile phones using a data connection such as GPRS or 3G. Interestingly, one million of them access Internet exclusively using data connection on their mobile phones, meaning they do not access Internet through any other means such as desktop/laptops.

Interestingly, about 7.1 million (or 77%) of these users who access Internet exclusively through mobile data connections are in rural areas. That clearly shows that increasing Internet penetration in rural areas using mobile phones is a viable idea. 

According to the study, as many as 110.4 million individuals use operator portals. Out of that, about 48.5 million do not access Internet through any other means.

"Over the past eight years, first time we have observed two interesting trends: one, exclusive mobile data users number growing close to ten million from less than one hundred thousand; and two, there are 48 million people who exclusively tasted the Internet, albeit unknowingly on mobile device. With right apps fulfilling their needs, these on-deck users could well upgrade to regular data connections," Mrutyunjay, Co-founder, Juxt said.

The study estimates that the 554.8 million unique mobile phone users in India use 643.4 million active SIMs, counting multiple connections being used by them on one/multiple handsets/tablets. The study further estimates that there are 773.9 million live SIMs in India. Juxt defines a Live SIM as any SIM which has validity irrespective of whether it is being used actively or not. 

The Juxt study also reveals that India already has more mobile users in its villages as compared to its cities and towns. More than 298 million (54%) of the 554.8 million mobile users are in rural areas as compared to 256 million users in urban areas. Despite this, rural India provides ample scope for growth as the penetration is just 36%. In contrast, in urban India, the penetration has reached 70%.

The study also reveals the usage of various services by mobile users. Interestingly, while the on-deck users are mostly into downloading of games, videos, and music; those who use Internet through a data connection use it more for communication. Social networking, instant messaging and e-mail are three of the top four applications used by these regular data user.

The Juxt research profiled 121,311 individuals in 30,066 households across India.