Patna: Bihar has emerged as the country’s third-largest state by the number of internet subscribers, with 8.95 crore connections, but the state’s overall internet density remains significantly below the national average, highlighting a persistent rural-urban digital divide.
According to data from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) cited in a performance report by the Ministry of Communications, Bihar has an internet density of 51.65 connections per 100 people. This is 24.94 points below the national average of 76.59 connections per 100 people.
The figures present a sharp contrast between Bihar’s large subscriber base and the reach of internet services across its population.
Urban Areas Have More Than One Connection Per Person
The disparity is particularly pronounced between urban and rural areas.
The report shows 129 internet connections for every 100 people in urban areas, suggesting that some individuals have more than one connection.
In rural areas, however, the figure falls to just 37 connections per 100 people.
The difference reflects the continuing challenges of extending digital connectivity beyond Bihar’s towns and cities.
Rural Bihar Faces Infrastructure, Literacy Challenges
Bihar’s large rural population is a major factor behind its relatively low internet density.
While telecom operators have undertaken initiatives to expand connectivity, inadequate infrastructure and limited digital literacy continue to restrict internet adoption in rural areas, according to the report.
The gap also points to a broader challenge: having a large number of internet connections does not necessarily translate into equitable access to digital services across the state.
Uttar Pradesh Leads Subscriber Numbers
In absolute terms, Uttar Pradesh has the country’s largest internet subscriber base, with 14.64 crore subscribers.
Maharashtra ranks second with 9.23 crore, followed by Bihar with 8.95 crore.
Bihar’s position among the country’s leading states by subscriber numbers therefore masks a more complex picture, in which internet access remains considerably less widespread in rural areas than in urban centres.
