Indians overpay for their internet, as per global study

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Internet Access

NEW DELHI — Surfshark recently released the Global Internet Value index (IVi), which uncovers countries that are overpaying for their internet connection plan. India is in 44th place in the world, with an index 26% lower than the global average. Oceania and Europe lead the world in internet value, while internet affordability in North America, South America, and Africa is below average. Globally, only 4 out of 10 people get their internet at fair prices, while the remaining 61% overpay for the internet they get.

Global Internet Value index (IVi) is calculated by dividing each country’s internet speed by internet affordability to determine which countries are overpaying for their internet. According to Surfshark’s data, India ranks 44th globally with an index of 0.0542, which is 26% lower than the global average, meaning Indians are overpaying for the internet they get compared to other countries worldwide.

Regarding regional position, India ranks 10th, with its index 28% lower than Asia’s average. India is in 1st place in Southern Asia. Countries like Bangladesh and Nepal rank 83rd and 77th, respectively, both overpaying for the internet they get. India has a 416% higher index compared to Bangladesh, and a 271% higher index compared to Nepal.

“Internet Value index offers to look at internet connection from a practical perspective – whether we get what we pay for. Even economically affluent countries with relatively fast internet can overpay compared to others worldwide,” says Agneska Sablovskaja, Lead Researcher at Surfshark. “However, some countries may have slower internet but also pay a considerably lower price, which is then considered fair.”

Out of the five Asian subregions, Eastern Asia has the best internet value

Four out of 10 people in Asia can access the internet at a fair price compared to the rest of the region. Out of the five Asian subregions, Southern Asia performs the worst, with its index 79% lower than the Asian average. Every country in Southern and Central Asia overpays for internet connections since they all have an internet value index lower than the regional average. Israel takes the lead in Asia with the best internet value index, followed by Singapore and South Korea.

Internet value across Asia
Graphical representation of internet value across Asia | Courtesy: Surfshark

Out of the five Asian subregions, Eastern Asia performs the best, with an index 64.5% higher than the Asian average. Pakistan and Tajikistan formed part of the three lowest-ranking Asian countries, while Yemen has the worst internet value index across Asia.

78% of European people get their internet at fair prices. Denmark takes the lead in Europe with an index nearly four times higher than the European average, closely followed by France. The three lowest-ranking countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and North Macedonia, are all located in Southern Europe.

In North America, seven out of every 10 individuals can access the internet at a fair price. The United States outperforms Canada regarding internet value. None of the countries that form part of the Latin American and the Caribbean subregion of North America have above-average internet value. 59% of South Americans get their internet at a fair price. Chile is South America’s leader in internet value, followed by Uruguay and Brazil.

Oceania’s internet value index is 2.5 times higher than the global average. Australia ranked 5th in the world, and New Zealand ranked 25th overall.

Surfshark’s study covers 117 countries

This study ranks 117 countries and territories based on the Internet Value index (IVi), which is determined by fixed broadband internet and mobile internet speed-to-affordability ratios.

Pillars have four indicators directly influencing the quality to affordability aspect: 1) time to work to afford fixed broadband internet (hours). 2) time to work to afford mobile internet (hours). 3) median fixed broadband download speed (Mbps). 4) median mobile internet download speed (Mbps).

Here are the key takeaways:

✹ India is in 44th place in the world, with an index 26% lower than the global average.
✹ In terms of regional position, India ranks 10th with its index 28% lower than Asia’s average. India is in 1st place in Southern Asia.
✹ Indians get their internet for 416% more value compared to Bangladeshis and 271% more value compared to Nepalis.
✹ Oceania and Europe lead the world in internet value, while internet affordability in North America, South America, and Africa is below average.
✹ Globally, only 4 out of 10 people get their internet at fair prices, while the remaining 61% overpay for the internet they get – almost 5 billion people.

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