New Delhi: The number of active Internet subscribers during 2003-04 increased 64 per cent to 23 lakh (2.3 million) from 14 lakh (1.4 million) in the previous fiscal, according to the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology.

The business segment contributed 44 per cent of the total active Internet entities and households accounted for the remaining 56 per cent, MAIT said while announcing the industry review for FY04.

Dial-up remains the most commonly used mode of accessing Internet among businesses although the proportion of businesses using dial-up has dropped from 71 per cent in March 2003 to 60 per cent in March 2004.

The proportion of access through cable link increased from 12 per cent to 16 per cent during the same period while that of ISDN increased from 11 per cent to 17 per cent and that of leased lines from eight per cent to nine per cent.