Digital technology has been taking hold in India for the best part of two decades. However, now, more than ever, it’s becoming an integral part of modern society. This is having a positive impact in many areas of life. The weather industry is already benefitting from the tech revolution. In addition to reading one of our recent weather systems reports, you can now get real-time data via mobile devices. Apps provide live satellite streams so you can see what the weather is like anywhere in the world at any time. In fact, these apps are so powerful that you can be as general or specific as you like with regards to the amount of detail shown.
This type of service has come to the fore thanks to an increase
in the number of internet users in India. As of 2020, internet penetration in India had reached 50%, according to Statista. That means more than 680 million people can now get online in one way or another. Perhaps even more staggeringly, internet penetration was just 27% in 2015. The rapid rollout of internet services is only going to speed up in the coming years. Elon Musk’s SpaceX is planning to deploy hundreds of Starlink satellites within the next decade. These satellites will make it possible for more people to get online.
The company’s mantra of “connecting people anywhere in the world” could take internet penetration beyond 75%. At this point, current digital services would flourish and, in turn, new ones would emerge. That’s significant on many levels. From an entertainment and media perspective, the internet already offers a rich tapestry of products. For example, official data shows that YouTube has 265 million active users in India. One of the results of the rise of YouTube in India has been the creation of new celebrities. For example, musician, Carry Minati, aka Ajey Nagar, has more than 21 million subscribers.
Digital Entertainment Represents a Revolution in India
Minati moved to the top of Indi`a’s YouTube star power list when
his song, Yalgaar, went viral. It’s a similar story when you look at comedian Amit Bhadana or vlogger BB Ki Vines, aka Bhuvan Bam. These people have all become famous because of the internet and, in turn, perpetuated a digital entertainment revolution. From YouTube, you get to gaming. Data from the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and Kantar IMRB shows that India has one of the world’s largest mobile gaming communities.
Delving deeper into the figures, Statista data shows that there are more than 600 million gamers contributing to an industry worth over $2.4 billion. Alongside eSports and social games, players are now able to enjoy casino games too. For example, sites like Betway connect players with real people in virtual settings. From card games to dice, the availability of online entertainment has given Indian players access to the dozens of options available for mobile and desktop devices. With roughly 40% of Indians participating in casino games, it's clear that there is something of a revolution in progress. Another prominent example of this gaming revolution is the ESL India Premiership. As well as running professional tournaments with cash prizes, the ESL has sponsorship deals with companies such as Nodwin Gaming and Airtel.
Digital Revolution Shines New Light on Weather Industry
What all of this demonstrates is how digital technology is reshaping India. This brings us back to the emergence and evolution of digital tech in meteorology. Doppler Radar has been around for a few years now. Its ability to track the location and strength of precipitation is important for many reasons, including when test matches are taking place. Forecasts derived from Doppler Radar technology can tell the organisers if, when, and for how long it's going to rain. In turn, they can schedule matches accordingly which, again, loops back to India's entertainment market.
Meteorologists also use high-powered computers to process weather data from thousands of observation points. These computers allow us to analyse trends and predict weather patterns. They also allow us to collate information on things such as the wettest places in India. This, in turn, makes it easier to establish weather norms and refine forecasts. More recently, digital technology has created weather-based products for consumers.
Weather Forecasts Are Getting Smarter
In addition to consumer-facing innovations, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping meteorologists make better predictions. A collaborative project between the University of Washington and Microsoft Research is harnessing the power of machine learning.
Taking 40 years’ worth of weather data, the joint venture’s AI system is working to predict the future. The aim is to take historical data and combine it with current conditions to simulate weather fronts for an entire year.
Although the project is in its early stages, the aim is to get to a point where it can be used alongside current methods to provide a much better indicator of what weather systems might appear before they’ve even formed. The bottom-line is that weather technology is improving and that’s down to the digital revolution. As India becomes more switched on to the internet and everything that goes with it, other innovations will emerge. That should lead to more accurate forecasts and more certainty for those of you that need to know what the weather is going to do and when it’s going to do it.