More and more users are coming to web world with more awareness about internet. They connect from desktop, laptop computers or handheld devices like mobile, smartphone and tabs. Internet connectivity from handheld devices is playing key role in connecting more users to internet.
Earlier there were less connections or active users using internet but now with some popular and useful apps people are joining the online world. Popular apps like whatsapp on mobile is driving people for easy and quick communication where they can send text, images, audio and videos.
It seems that people are spending 1-3% of their earnings on internet packages. If we take a case where monthly household income of a family is Rs. 50000 with 2 members in family where both use internet. Internet connectivity would be required for mobile as well as desktop/laptop. Internet monthly pack on mobile would come around Rs. 150 for a user and total of around 300 Rs. for both. Coming to broadband, dongle for home usage it would be around 650 for 3GB or 750 for 4 GB. If only normal browsing is done 4GB could be sufficient upto some level only as online shopping consumes a lot of bandwidth. If user goes for a higher data plan it would cost around 1000 for 10 GB or so. There are unlimited plans along with these but speed given after consuming high speed data is very low which is around 128kbps. At such a slow speed sites doesn’t open quickly and browsing experience is now good.
If user other than just browsing listens to music, downloads stuff then more data is required and internet pack would be much more costly. Spending this much amount on internet seems to be expensive. Few changes in internet packages that can be included could be:
- Carry forwarding of unused data to next month
- Cheaper plans (maximum of 100 per user per month) with good speed
- Sharing of internet data on mobile, desktop,laptop dongle i.e. once connection for home, mobile
Internet speed in country is not that good. If some brand is offering high speed then cost is high for initial setup/devices and for only limited data is given at good speed. If device is used at different locations then good speed connectivity is not present everywhere. There should be unlimited plans at good speed available at nominal cost.
Will it become even more expensive?
Yes, more people are getting connected to internet for online shopping and communication. User base is increasing and currently offering internet packages with offers brands are attracting them and are creating a demand for internet. After some time when new internet subscribers growth is not much i.e. most are connected to internet and internet has become a need the prices would further increase if there is no control or a department to look for the same.
If internet becomes a necessity?
There should be maximum upper pricing for non-commercial usage as more and more people are getting connected and it is become a necessity for information, shopping, communication and utilities etc.
How online shopping consumes more bandwidth?
It is just a browsing when shopping online then how is consumes more bandwidth? When shopping online it’s wouldn’t be like going to a website and going to exact page, click buy, make payment and it is done. Rather it would be browsing web for a product let us a dress. Going through multiple websites, checking multiple pages on each website, applying different filters in terms of search words, price range, dress type etc., checking multiple dresses on each page with images, and then making a purchase sometimes. Images of products are being browsed on many websites and pages, loading of all such images would take a lot of bandwidth depending on image size and resolution. As user browses through many images it consumes more data and there could be chances that high speed data is used/consumed before package date ends.
What after data is over?
Is some unlimited data packages high speed data is not unlimited. It is limited upto some GBs and after that it is slow speed internet connection where site opens slowly and during online shopping product images doesn’t load quickly. In other data packages it costs as per browsing i.e. Rs. per Kb/Mb.
What might happen in future?
Connectivity/usage/package cost is even more. Speed would increase but for limited data. Users will be using more websites/apps for shopping, knowledge, communication, payments and entertainment. Their dependency would increase with time and if it costs more then people would move back to brick-mortar world.
What about Internet tax?
While shopping internet tax is not applicable there. But it may come soon. You never know. How it would be like? You have to pay x amount or % amount for buying products or using online services. It could be named relaxing tax (as it can be done form home/office and you relax, no need to stand in long queues), time saving tax (as you did it by clicks only quickly, no standing in long queues). Some websites are taking online booking charges as internet fees. When they are offering online services they shouldn’t take such fees as people want to do things online as they are cheaper, faster and easier. From providers end it saves employee-hours because things are being done digitally. For such cases online services should be cheaper but contrary to it they are expensive in some cases.
Apps offering discounts?
There are some apps offering discounts, promotions for online buying and using services from their apps instead of using their website. Just for promoting apps there are offering promotional offers. Is this to make user habitual to mobile internet world? If yes, then addiction would be costly surfing later on.
More internet gadgets?
It is just limited to desktops, latpops, tabs, phones, smartphones for internet connectivity. In few years it would be more gadgets using internet like GPS (being used now also but very less), home appliances, camera and other intelligent products. Internet connectivity or 24 hours (constant) internet connectivity would be required for all such gadgets. They will have their own data usage patterns. All this will lead to more data usage and more dependency on internet and more costs.