When comparing network data use between Strategy Analytics AppOptix panelists in the U.S. and India, network use in India stands at approx. 300MB/user/day (for both cellular and Wifi), which is roughly 33% less than in the U.S. However, the balance between cellular and Wifi use is noticeably dissimilar, as shown in the figures below, with smartphone device users in India exchanging a relative equal amount of data over cellular and Wifi networks. This dependency on cellular networks is explicable and arises from India’s market dynamics where Wifi is not as readily available in the home and not everyone owns a computing device (PCs/laptops/tablets) for Internet access. Hence, the smartphone tends to be the go-to device for access and communications.





The data on network use by India network operators is equally telling, with data use split unevenly between major operators – notably with Telenor and Idea showing greater levels of cellular use vs. Airtel, Vodafone, and Aircel indicating more Wifi use. This is an interesting time among the India operators with reports of mergers swirling and players attempting to disrupt the balance by attracting consumers by offering large bundles of data for low cost.

The data source for the above is SA’s AppOptix platform. With our AppOptix India app installed on a panel of users in India, we capture every interaction (in near real time) that someone (on our proprietary panel) has with his/her mobile device.  Through our app, we capture operator networks data; device information; battery performance data; apps use data, including what, when, how often and where they are used. Here’s a link to an overview.