Today ‘Internet’ has become such an essential part of modern life that it is difficult to imagine everyday work without it. From children’s education to elders’ professional work, it has become deeply ingrained in our lifestyle. Its importance can be gauged from the fact that if the Internet goes down even for a few seconds, everything from big companies to small businesses comes to a standstill. Today, for any kind of information, we search on the internet before trusting the understanding and experience of our elders. In this context, it is interesting to know when and in which city the Internet was first introduced in India.
When did Internet first start in India?
The official launch of the Internet in India was on August 15, 1995. The work of introducing the Internet in India was done by the government company, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL).
Where are the main hubs of Internet cables located in India?
The main hubs of Internet cable routes in India are located in Mumbai and Chennai. Apart from this, cable landing stations are also present in Cochin, Tuticorin and Trivandrum.
Where did the Internet first start in India?
The first public internet service is believed to have started in Mumbai. Subsequently, it was launched in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. In this way, Mumbai has the distinction of being the country’s first ‘Internet City’.
How was the internet speed in the beginning?
In its initial stages, internet speed was very slow. Nowadays—when we are used to 200 Kbps speeds—even 100 Kbps speeds seem slow. But at that time, the internet speed was only 9.6 kbps. Just imagine how difficult it would be for today’s generation to use the internet at such a slow speed!
Before it became available to the general public, what was the Internet used for?
After its launch in India in 1995, Internet use was initially limited to government departments and a few select educational institutions. Before reaching the general public, the Internet was provided by the ‘Education and Research Network’ (ERNET) for research and academic purposes. It was only after this period that the Internet became available to the common people.
By what name was the Internet introduced to the common people?
Internet was first made available to the common people in India by Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) under the name ‘Gateway Internet Access Service’ (GIAS).
internet users in india
Started in 1994, the Internet has today become an essential part of people’s daily needs. According to the statistics of 2025, the number of internet users in India was 950 million. With 130 million users, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of internet users.
