Cybercafes and their Potential as Community Development Tools in India

Published in the Journal of Community Informatics (vol. 1, no. 3), this article describes the growth of cybercafes in India, and examines whether Indian cybercafes are helping to bridge the digital divide. To help answer this question, a street survey was conducted in Bangalore, interviewing local citizens with regard to socio-economic background and internet usage. The purpose of the study was to examine the "problems and potential of cybercafes as development tools for different urban communities."


The author defines cybercafes as "for-profit facilities, open to the general public to access the Internet, other network facilities and/or a variety of information technology tools on a temporary contract basis (pay per use) without the necessity for the users to own hardware or software themselves." These businesses have, according to the author, grown from a primarily urban phenomena in their early days, to a popular model that serves a "crucial portion of Indian society", even in small towns and larger villages. The author describes the rapid growth of cybercafes in India, citing early estimates of 12,000 cybercafes throughout the country in 2001 and more recent estimates of 50,000 in 2004.


The survey results indicated that both socio-economic class and ability to speak English were strongly correlated with internet usage. 36.1% of the highest socio-economic group surveyed used the internet, while none of the members of lowest socio-economic group were internet users. Among fluent English speakers, 34.4% were internet users. Of non-English speakers, the rate was just .4%. Cybercafes were the most common primary access point for internet users.


The author notes that only 26.4% of cybercafes offer any formal training,
but that it is common for inexperienced users to receive informal assistance and instruction from staff. He also cites anecdotal evidence that illiterate people have begun to approach cybercafes, asking for assistance in sending emails or retrieving information, indicating a possible shift in customer base.



From the survey results the author concludes that cybercafes have served largely the upper socio-economic groups, and have therefore not done much to bridge the divide between different classes within India. The cafes have, however, served the Indian middle classes, who often might have no other internet access point. In that regard, he argues, they have served to bridge the divide between India and the more developed countries.

The article concludes will some suggestions for how cybercafes may better serve the lower socio-economic classes. First, the author suggests providing more locally significant content and applications. To help and encourage these new lower-income users to take advantage of these offerings, he further suggests providing specialised training and services. Finally, the author recommends a shift in perspective, where business owners recognise this group as potential customers.