Internet Economy : India vis-a-vis South Korea

The advances in digital and mobile technology have provided far-reaching economic and social benefits for countries, companies and citizens all over the world. South Korea is the leading example of a country rising to the epitome of Information and Communication Technology in the world. South Korea's internet infrastructure is one of the most advanced in the world. The country has not only the highest number of broadband connections per capita in the world but also the world's highest rate of WiFi hotspots per capita. Currently India is the second-largest in the world in terms of internet users, after China. The pattern of online behaviour is rapidly converging with that of users in more developed countries. India has a low number of secure internet servers per capita as compared to South Korea. Average bandwidth per capita in India is significantly lower than in many other aspiring countries. In India, the policymakers need to embrace digital advances, and they also need to recognise the dangers of inaction and prepare for the changes that are coming. This paper presents the case studies of South Korea and India and attempts to draw a comparison between India and South Korea in context of internet usage, its foundations and ease of entrepreneurship. In the end, the paper outlines the future track of internet growth in India and the lessons which India can learn from South Korea