Early Indian Internet

When talking about early Indian internet, the period in the 1990s when India first connected to the global web, using primitive dial‑up lines and a handful of government initiatives. Also known as 1990s Indian web, it set the stage for today’s digital boom. The era early Indian internet was defined by low bandwidth, scarce online content, and a curious community of pioneers.

Key Foundations that Shaped the Scene

The backbone of this era was dial‑up connections, modem‑based links offering speeds of 28.8 to 56 Kbps, which limited what users could see and do online. Simultaneously, the government rolled out internet policy, regulations and incentives that allowed academic institutions and a few private firms to gain access to international gateways. These policies influenced the growth trajectory of the early Indian internet by controlling bandwidth allocation and pricing.

Another turning point was the introduction of the .IN domain, India’s country‑code top‑level domain, which gave Indian businesses and individuals a recognizable online identity. The .IN domain required registration through the National Internet Exchange, encouraging a sense of national ownership over web space.

Commercial browsers like Netscape Navigator arrived in Indian labs, making the web more accessible. Their graphical interface enabled users to explore sites beyond plain text, sparking interest in email, early e‑commerce, and online news. Meanwhile, university networks such as ERNET (Education and Research Network) served as the first large‑scale academic backbone, connecting research institutes across the country.

All these pieces—dial‑up, policy, .IN domain, and early browsers—combined to form the foundation of India’s digital ecosystem. Below you’ll find a curated set of articles that dig deeper into each of these milestones, show how they still echo in today’s tech landscape, and provide practical takeaways for anyone interested in the roots of India’s internet story.