Spike in internet use in rural areas during COVID-19 lockdown: Karnataka minister

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Tuesday said there has been a spike in use of the internet in rural areas during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period. Rural areas registered an increase of 35 to 40 per cent in use of the internet during the lockdown in the last two to three months, he was quoted as saying by his office in a release.

“There are 93,834 subscribers to BharatNet and had used 30,239 GB between January and May. This is the highest in recent years,” he said.

The DCM also said internet connectivity, provided under the government of India’s BharatNet project, in rural areas will be improved in the next two to three months.