Gone are the days when there used to be a cyber café in every lane of the market place. Despite being present in large numbers, there used to be queue for getting the places. In the last few years, the number of cyber cafes is on decline and as the penetration of mobile internet is increasing, they are destined to an eventual death.
Before discussing about cyber cafes, it is essential to go back and see the history of internet in India. It was in the mid-nineties when the internet made an entry in India. It was a new concept and the computer had started becoming popular. The cost of computer was too high to be bought by a common man. It was this need the cyber café started catering. Shops containing computers and cubicles were set up so that people could get their computer work done. As the internet become more popular, people started using emails for the communication. This increased the traffic to the cafes. The owners of such places were making good amount of profit. However, in the last few years, the mobile internet has dented the profit and potential of such computer hubs.
Due to increase in access of internet from the mobile, people don’t find the compelling reasons to visit a cyber café. Everything is available at the finger tips. However, there are certain works like DTP, print outs that have made them afloat. It will be interesting to see how long this casualty remains alive on the back up support system.