2G based internet subscribers could go off over the next decade: CMR

According to a report by Gurgaon-based Cybermedia Research (CMR), 2G based internet subscribers could go off the scene in India over the next decade.

The report said that after Jio's entry, the projections indicate that by the first quarter of 2020, India would have zero subscribers using 2G internet services. This advance is because of the exponential growth in the decline rate after Jio on the scene, which has been 12 percent average every quarter.

Jio's entry into the India market was a disruption in many ways. Not only it kicked off the change in orientation of telcos from voice to data, the Internet also became synonymous with broadband in the wireless space.

In the pre-Jio era, the decline in wireless narrowband users was taking place at a quarterly average of 3 percent that got spurred 4 times after its entry.

The report further pointed out that, with the 4G cellular capability now in a FeaturePhone as well as bundling of entry-level Smartphones by various incumbent operators, the pace towards 4G becoming the default wireless internet access is on the rise. This translates to effectively all wireless broadband users accessing the internet over broadband marking not only end with the addition of narrowband wireless subscribers but also increasing the declining rate.

In addition to 4G handsets - Feature as well as Smart, becoming affordable, the declining prices per GB of 4G data and penetration of services in Tier 3 cities and rural geographies of the country is only going to further expedite the process of all subscribers accessing the internet over wireless to be on 4G or broadband.

Furthermore, It is expected that all the above changing technology and market dynamics will advance the projected zero narrowband wireless internet subscribers (2G Internet Subscriber) by 2-3 quarters and this means India would become all wireless subscribers accessing the internet using 4G technology and mark end of the era of narrowband wireless internet users. Though the usage of narrowband wireless internet will not go as certain IoT applications like smart parking could efficiently work over the 2G infrastructure.