In order to control the spread of the coronavirus, India went into a national lockdown starting on 24th March, 2020. While the initial lockdown was intended to last for 21 days, the lockdown restrictions started easing up from 31st May, 2020.
It would be fair to say that the lockdown in India was an unprecedented move that had a huge number of complicated effects on the nation. As people were forced to stay at home and work from home
A mobile-first nation
It is clear that the majority of Indians rely on mobile data and 4G in India and not wired internet connections. As for 31st January, 2020 it is estimated that there are around 20.58 million wired internet users and more than 1 billion wireless internet users in the country.
This trend is only set to grow as it has been estimated that mobile data traffic in India is set to triple by 2025.
All these stats point to the fact that India will continue to remain a mobile-first nation when it comes to the internet for the near future. This can also partly be attributed to the Jio revolution that made 4G internet accessible to almost all segments of the society and all parts of the country.
Lastly, online-facing industries such as online casino sites and the online gaming industry are focusing heavily on improving the mobile experience in India which is another clear indication that mobile traffic will continue to remain the majority of internet traffic in India.
The lockdown accelerated digital literacy
Even though India might have more than a billion 4G data users, there is still a divide when it comes to digital literacy. While the newer generation is pretty adept at using the latest apps, features, and technologies, the same cannot be said for the older generation.
Since the lockdown in the country forced everyone to go digital for even the most basic needs, it can be argued that it had the effect of accelerating digital literacy in the country. A number of older people had to use their smartphones for things they weren’t used to doing such as video calling, online delivery, and government functions.
The network stayed strong even with the increased load
The lockdown in India was probably one of the biggest tests on the 4G network in the country. While outages were pretty rare before the lockdown, it is impressive that most of the 4G providers managed to keep the disruptions to a minimum even when the network load was at unprecedented levels.
A strong and reliable network is the key
The lockdown in India was a messy affair in an uncertain time. The mobile networks were crucial in providing connectivity and access to information for more than 80% of the population that relies on them.
As the times still stay uncertain and the pandemic remains raging, it is still unclear as to when things will get back to normal. Yet, the 4G networks remain strong and reliable and are serving their purpose of connecting people when they need it the most.
