Journey of Communication Technology - Internet & Mobile Era (1990s–2000s) – The Age of Global Digital Connectivity

Journey of Communication Technology - Internet & Mobile Era (1990s–2000s) – The Age of Global Digital Connectivity

This era marks a seismic shift in how humans communicate. The internet and mobile phones became widely accessible, transforming communication from one-to-one and scheduled (telegrams, landlines) to instant, anytime, anywhere messaging, browsing, and calling.

🌍 1. Rise of the Internet (1990s)

🕸️ Key Milestones:

1991: World Wide Web goes public

1995: First commercial internet service launched in India (VSNL)

1996–1999: Cyber cafes emerge in metros; internet becomes available in homes

🌐 Internet Features:

Email replaces letters

Chat rooms, forums, and blogs connect global communities

Search engines (Yahoo!, Google) change information discovery

Web 1.0: Static websites with limited interactivity

📬 Early email services in India: VSNL mail, SatyamOnline, Rediffmail

📱 2. Mobile Phones Transform Communication (Late 1990s–2000s)

📞 Early Mobile Era (2G – GSM/CDMA)

1995: First mobile call in India (between West Bengal CM & Telecom Minister)

Technology: GSM & CDMA (digital voice + SMS)

Affordable handsets (Nokia, Motorola) drove adoption

Year	Milestone
1995	First mobile call in India (Modi Telstra)
1998	Mobile phones begin to spread beyond metros
2000s	Prepaid SIM cards revolutionize access

📲 Mobile Features (2G Era):

Text messaging (SMS) becomes the new normal

Ringtones, wallpapers, and games personalize devices

Limited internet access (WAP, GPRS) began around 2004–05

3. India-Specific Developments

Area	Impact
Business	Stock updates, SMS alerts, and mobile banking emerge
Education	Email and Google open up access to global knowledge
Society	Cyber cafes become youth hubs; mobile phones bridge family distances
News/Media	Newspapers go online; SMS updates gain popularity

🖥️ 4. Computers, Internet Cafés & Email Boom

Cyber cafés sprang up in every town

Online chatting (Yahoo! Messenger, Rediff Bol) popularized digital friendships

Flash websites, blogs, and Orkut introduced personal publishing

💬 5. Mobile vs Internet Use (Late 1990s–2000s)

Feature	Internet (Cyber cafés)	Mobile Phones
Cost	Hourly rates	Prepaid balance
Use case	Email, browsing, chatting	SMS, calling, ringtones
Devices	Desktop PCs	Basic phones (Nokia, Sony)
Internet access	Dial-up or GPRS	Slow WAP, no full browser

🧠 Summary: What Changed in This Era

Domain	Before (1980s)	After (2000s)
Communication	Phone calls, letters	Email, SMS, chat, mobile calls
Media	Radio, TV	Online news, blogs, Orkut, YouTube
Work Culture	Manual files, fax	Digital docs, email, forums
Access	Government centers	Personal devices (mobile, desktop)

🔧 Foundations Laid for:

3G/4G connectivity

Social media boom

e-Governance and e-commerce

Digital identity & mobile banking (later Aadhaar & UPI)