India has witnessed an internet boom over the past 12 years, with the number of internet connections increasing fourfold—from 25.15 crore in 2014 to 102.86 crore in 2026.
India has witnessed an internet boom over the past 12 years, with the number of internet connections increasing fourfold—from 25.15 crore in 2014 to 102.86 crore in 2026.
According to the government, rising internet penetration has significantly expanded broadband access, with broadband connections increasing from 6.1 crore in 2014 to 99.56 crore by December 2025.
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This digital expansion has connected citizens, startups, businesses, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and government services to the digital economy.
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Faster and more reliable connectivity has also enabled the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, blockchain, fintech, and other data-driven technologies. Affordable internet services have further accelerated technology adoption at scale.
According to government data, average monthly data consumption increased from 61.66 MB in 2014 to 24.01 GB in December 2025. During the same period, data costs declined sharply from Rs 269 per GB to Rs 8–10 per GB.
Lower internet costs have expanded access to telemedicine, online education, digital payments, e-commerce, and e-governance services. This widespread digital adoption has created a strong user ecosystem for innovation, startups, and digital entrepreneurship.
The Digital India Programme, launched in 2015, laid the foundation for India’s emerging technology ecosystem by strengthening digital infrastructure across the country. The rapid expansion of optical fibre networks created the backbone for high-speed connectivity.
Government data further show that optical fibre coverage increased from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025. This expansion improved internet access, network reliability, and digital connectivity across both urban and rural India.
“India has also achieved one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts, with services reaching 99.9 per cent of districts. Improved digital infrastructure accelerated internet adoption nationwide,” the government said.
AI is transforming economies through automation, higher productivity, and industrial innovation. India has also emerged as a major global AI ecosystem, supported by robust digital infrastructure and a large technology workforce.
To accelerate this progress, the government approved the IndiaAI Mission in 2024 with an outlay of more than Rs 10,300 crore. The mission focuses on building indigenous AI computing infrastructure and expanding access to high-end GPU facilities.
The mission also supports AI research, startup development, youth skilling, and public service innovation. Alongside technological advancement, it promotes the development of safe, inclusive, and responsible AI systems. These efforts aim to position India as a globally trusted hub for artificial intelligence.
Within two years of its launch, the mission has helped strengthen India’s AI ecosystem. As of March 2026, India had around 1.8 lakh startups, with nearly 89 per cent of new startups using AI-based solutions.
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