Indian households with mobile phones 62% better off than those without

New Delhi: Indian households that own at least one mobile phone enjoy 62 per cent higher level of economic prosperity compared to non mobile-owning ones, says a study by Tata Teleservices and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

"Indian households possessing at least one mobile device enjoy 62 per cent higher level of economic prosperity compared to non mobile-owning households; this premium is even more pronounced with respect to urban communities where mobile phone - owning households are - on average - 85 per cent better off in economic terms," the study said.

According to the research, the economic premium associated with owning at least one mobile phone in the household is particularly pronounced in states such as Chandigarh and Assam where mobile-equipped urban households enjoy a more at 140 per cent higher level of economic prosperity than their non-mobile phone owning counterparts.

The states of Uttaranchal, Daman & Diu and Andaman and Nicobar are notable since, uniquely in these states, the Mobile Multiplier effect is actually more pronounced for rural households compared to their urban counterparts, the study said.

"In this respect, mobile telephony displays all the characteristics of a genuine public good. It's use is associated with economic prosperity (higher consumption) as well as higher life expectancy, literacy levels, educational attainment and overall living standards as captured through Human Development Index," Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences Bino Paul said.

The study aggregated India's largest census data covering nearly 100,000 responses - states with higher rates of mobile device per household.