The number of global internet users registered tremendous growth due to digital transformation through new technologies. The affordability of smartphones and the roll-out of 5G-enabled mobile devices increased the demand for mobile internet connections. The demand from the residential segment also grew over the years, and with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the demand soared. Online businesses remain the major factor for such growth, with small and large businesses adopting the digital medium to achieve growth and increase customer reach. Businesses recovered to some extent in 2021 with the gradual decrease in COVID-19 cases globally, which led to an increase in the use of internet by the business segment.
The global internet subscriber base grew 9% in 2021, reaching 6,388,083,000 users. The number of subscribers in the fixed-line and mobile internet segments grew 9% and 10%, respectively, in 2021.
In 2021, Asia-Pacific accounted for 55% of the global internet subscriber base, followed by the Middle East and Africa, and Europe with 16% and 14%, respectively. South America and North America accounted for 8% and 7%, respectively.
China continues to dominate the internet market with a share of 24% in the global internet subscriber base due to its significant presence in the smartphone market through its low-cost manufacturing capability. India accounted for 11% of the global subscriber base due to an increase in the use of the internet with the roll-out of 4G services and an increase in the number of smartphone users. Major companies in the internet market in India include Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. The US remains the third-largest internet market with a 6% share. The internet market in the US is dominated by companies such as AT&T and Verizon Communications, which focus on enhancing internet infrastructure across the region.
Indonesia holds the fourth position among the countries with the highest number of internet users. The country accounts for 4% of the internet users globally, with a subscriber base of 236 million users as of 2021. Russia is the fifth-largest internet consumer in the world, with a subscriber base of 182 million, accounting for 3% of the global internet user base.
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