Nearly 72% of Indians are changing their online behaviour because of concerns about cyber scams, according to a recent GSMA survey. The findings have raised concerns that growing fears of online fraud could affect India’s digital economy and slow the adoption of digital services.
Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, highlighted the findings during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) in New Delhi, warning that cybersecurity concerns could become a major obstacle to India’s digital growth.
Why Are 72% of Indians Changing Their Online Behaviour?
According to the GSMA survey, 70.72% of Indians are concerned about online scams and are actively moderating their digital behaviour.
The findings suggest that cyber fraud is affecting how people use online services, raising questions about confidence in digital platforms.
Gorman said the scale of concern was particularly significant for a country seeking to expand its digital economy.
He noted that India faces a challenge when more than two-thirds of its population is worried about online fraud and is changing its behaviour as a result.
The survey also found that nearly one in eight Indians had fallen victim to a scam during the previous 12 months.
Many victims reported that their complaints had not received satisfactory resolution, adding to concerns about the effectiveness of existing responses to cyber fraud.
Why Is Cyber Fraud Becoming a Threat to India’s Digital Economy?
India has positioned itself as a major player in digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, 5G expansion and future 6G networks.
However, Gorman warned that technological development alone would not be enough to sustain the country’s digital ambitions.
He identified digital trust as a central requirement for the continued growth of online services.
“I think top of the list has to be digital trust,” Gorman said.
He explained that online fraud affects not only individual consumers but also businesses and governments seeking to accelerate digital adoption.
When people become concerned about the safety of online transactions and services, those concerns can influence their willingness to participate in the digital economy.
The warning comes as India continues to expand its telecommunications infrastructure and promote wider access to digital services.
What Role Will Satellite Internet Play in India’s Connectivity Plans?
Gorman also addressed the growing debate over satellite communications and the entry of companies such as Starlink into India’s telecommunications market.
He said satellite broadband should complement existing mobile networks rather than replace them.
India’s terrestrial mobile broadband networks already reach more than 98% of the population, according to the figures cited by Gorman.
Satellite services could therefore play an important role in connecting remote areas where conventional mobile networks have limited coverage.
“Satellite is complementary to mobile technology,” he said.
Gorman explained that satellite connectivity could help people living in remote locations or working in areas where mobile coverage is unavailable, including at sea.
However, he maintained that terrestrial mobile networks would remain the primary means of connectivity for the foreseeable future.
Can Satellite Companies Challenge India’s Telecom Operators?
Gorman played down concerns that satellite companies deploying low-Earth orbit constellations could gain an overwhelming advantage over established domestic telecommunications operators.
He pointed to India’s experience with 5G as an example of how technological leadership does not necessarily depend on being the first to introduce a service.
India was not among the first countries to launch 5G, but it has become the world’s second-largest 5G market, he said.
Gorman argued that entering a market later does not prevent a country or its operators from achieving substantial growth.
His comments suggest that the long-term development of India’s connectivity market will depend on infrastructure expansion, affordability and the ability to reach more users, rather than simply on which technology becomes available first.
Why Is Affordable Internet Access Still a Major Concern?
Affordability remains an important challenge for satellite broadband in India, where mobile telecommunications tariffs are among the lowest globally.
Gorman said policymakers should focus on connecting the hundreds of millions of people who are still not using mobile broadband.
He argued that extending access through existing mobile infrastructure should remain a priority instead of attempting to connect every citizen through satellite services.
The objective, he suggested, should be to make digital connectivity accessible to more people while maintaining a sustainable environment for telecommunications investment.
Gorman also emphasised the importance of regulatory conditions that encourage operators to continue investing in infrastructure.
Such investment will be necessary to support further 5G expansion and prepare networks for future 6G deployment.
What Is India’s Position in the Global 5G and 6G Market?
India’s telecommunications market is expected to remain an important part of the Asia-Pacific region’s digital growth.
According to GSMA projections, the Asia-Pacific mobile market could expand from approximately $1 trillion to $1.4 trillion by 2030.
India’s 5G adoption is expected to reach 62% by that year, exceeding the regional average.
Gorman also discussed the development of global 6G standards, which are projected to take shape around 2028.
Commercial deployment of 6G technology is expected in the early 2030s.
He said India’s participation in global telecommunications standard-setting is expanding, but technological leadership requires more than contributing to technical specifications.
“Leadership is not just about the technical standard. Leadership is about bringing everybody along,” Gorman said.
He stressed the importance of building an innovation ecosystem capable of supporting future technological development.
Despite the growth projections, Gorman maintained that expanding telecommunications infrastructure would not automatically guarantee success.
Public confidence in digital services would remain equally important.
The GSMA findings highlight a growing challenge for India’s digital economy. While the country continues to expand 5G connectivity and prepare for 6G, concerns about online scams are already influencing how millions of people use digital services. With 70.72% of Indians reporting changes in their online behaviour because of scam fears, strengthening public trust and improving responses to cyber fraud could become as important as expanding network coverage.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
