Internet Shutdowns Cost India $322 Mn In 2024: Report

India suffered an economic loss of $322 Mn on account of internet shutdowns in 2024, as per a report by UK-based review platform Top10VPN.

In contrast, the review platform had pegged the losses on account of internet shutdowns in India at $585.4 Mn in 2023. 

As per a separate estimate by internet shutdown tracker SFLC.in, India experienced 60 internet shutdowns in 2024, translating into 3,160 hours of internet blockade (131.6 days). 

As per SFLC.in, these shutdowns ranged from brief and localised restrictions to extended statewide disruptions. However, the tracker noted that the number of internet shutdowns last year saw a notable 37.5% decline from 96 such internet blockades in 2023. 

The New Delhi-based digital advocacy group also said that a majority of shutdowns (32 or 53.33%) were preventive in nature and were implemented by authorities to avoid potential unrest or violence. Meanwhile, the remaining 45% (27) of the shutdowns were reactive and were imposed after a serious incident occurred. 

It is pertinent to note that local authorities temporarily bar internet services in their respective areas to address law and order concerns and other issues.

Notably, mobile users were primarily impacted by authorities blocking the internet. The country witnessed 49 instances where only mobile internet was suspended while another eight incidents saw both mobile and broadband services being cut off. 

Giving further breakdown of the data, SFLC.in also said that strife-torn Manipur was the worst hit, witnessing 11 instances of internet shutdown spanning 1,104 hours.

However, unrest was not the sole reason for cutting off internet services. Local authorities also suspended the internet to stop cheating. India saw five region-wide internet shutdowns during examinations, amounting to 36.5 hours of internet blockade. 

In its annual review, SFLC also said that thousands of students lost access to online classes, small businesses “struggled without digital tools”and communities were cut off from critical news and emergency services on account of these internet shutdowns. 

This comes a few weeks after telecom industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) reportedly wrote to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to dissuade state governments from issuing internet shutdown orders. In its letter, the COAI said that such internet suspensions cause inconvenience to citizens and cripple critical functions.