“Excuse me, where does the Internet reside?” Not many of those polled in a recent global survey by India’s Tata Communications, could answer this. Titled – Connected World II – the survey showed that despite as many as 3 billion people connected to the Web, at least half of them had no clue on where the Internet came from.

As many as 82% did not know that the fastest mode of Internet delivery to their devices was through sub-sea cables, while 64% of respondents incorrectly believed the Internet was “infinite”.

Tata Communications is a global communications & service provider, responsible for providing connectivity to the world’s 24% of internet routes. The report was based upon 9,417 responses captured from across the globe. The Online survey had respondents across 6 countries – India, Singapore, UK, USA, Germany & France – answering questions, aimed at capturing behavioural, technical & philosophical responses in relation to people’s associations, understanding & emotional connections to the Internet.

Another conclusion the report reached was that the fearing of missing out (FOMO) when not connected to the Internet was a global phenomenon. A third of the respondents said they would not be able to survive more than 5 hours without access to the Web. Many were willing to trade alcohol, TV , chocolates & even intimacy to keep an Internet connection.

The survey found that Online Indians were heavy Internet users who lived with FOMO. Many of those polled also believed the Internet & www to be the same.

To read up on the rest of the survey conclusions, click here.

Graphic: Tata Communications

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