Despite the low-cost and expanding internet accessibility in India, a recent survey revealed that more than half of internet users are dissatisfied with data speeds and often experience connection issues.
According to the annual broadband survey conducted by LocalCircles, which gathered insights from over 70,000 broadband and fiber consumers across 286 Indian districts, 86 percent of users primarily connect to the internet at home via fiber, broadband, DSL, or fixed-line connection. However, a significant portion of these users—56 percent—reported experiencing connection disruptions or receiving lower speeds than what they were promised or paying for.
The survey found that 39 percent of respondents felt that the speed they received was much lower than what they were paying for, while 47 percent claimed that it took over 24 hours for their service provider to address their complaints.
An overwhelming 70 percent of fiber/broadband/DSL/fixed-line users expressed their willingness to switch to an alternate provider for better quality, service, or price.
The study also indicated that the income generated by telephone, landline, or fixed voice services in India is expected to decline at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 percent from 2023 to 2028. This decline is attributed to the growing preference for mobile and over-the-top (OTT) communication services among users, coupled with operators offering complimentary voice minutes within bundled plans, leading to a reduction in average revenue per user (ARPU) of fixed voice operators in India.
LocalCircles intends to share the survey results with relevant government bodies, such as the telecom regulator TRAI, the Ministry of Telecom, and the Department of Consumer Affairs, to address the issues faced by consumers and improve the quality of internet services in the country.
