India is home to 20% of all mobile phone subscribers and half a billion new smartphone users are expected in the next 3 years. This opens up a huge opportunity for mobile advertisers and operators alike.Below are our top 5 reasons to enter to mobile market in India now:
1. India is shaping the global smartphone market
The smartphone market size and growth are huge in India – and everybody knows it. With growth slowing and maturing in US and Western Europe, smartphone makers like Apple and Google are turning to countries, like India, for their future growth. This gives these countries influence over the types of features that are built into the phones. Because India is the fastest growing smartphone market in the world, users have the power to shape what smartphones look like for all of us. Sanjeet Pandit of Qualcomm says “Everybody is looking at India as a huge landing ground for their innovation and also as a next big step in that part of the world.”
2. Apps are quickly becoming part of the Indian culture
Smartphones are the point of entry to the internet for users in India. According to mobile venture capitalist Benedict Evans, “For hundreds of millions of people, mobile phones are not just their first computer but their first electrical device of any kind.” With smartphones come apps, and 58% of smartphone users in India believe apps truly benefit their lives, with 77% having up to 30 apps on their smartphone.
3. India is competing with China as the world mobile leader in the world
India saw a 15% grown in Q4 2015 and overtook the US quicker than expected as the second largest market. Research shows that the mobile market in China has reached saturation – prompting Chinese manufacturers to capitalize on the India opportunity. Furthermore, a recent study found that “India will grow nearly five times faster than the world’s largest smartphone market China, where growth has decelerated.”
4. The potential for 4G is huge
Samsung recently announced that all of its new smartphones will be only of the 4G variety. This move will likely catapult India into the modern mobile age and force other players to move toward 4G as well. This comes on the tail of India’s Reliance Industries Limited making its Jio 4G-only network widely available for free until the end of 2016. Due to these developments, Morgan Stanley estimates 4G smartphones will account for 75% of 170 million shipments to India by the end of 2016.Digital Turbine is well positioned for this future growth. Over the past year, It has partnered with the largest mobile operators in India. Through Digital Turbine’s unique native mobile advertising, app preloads can be seamlessly delivered to newly activated android smartphones. To learn more about Digital Turbine’s product offerings and/or how to partner with us in India contact us at communications@digitalturbine.com.
