U.S.-based internet giant Google has upgraded the Data Saver mode in its browser Chrome. Data Saver reduces the amount of data used when mobile phone and tablet users visit a webpage. According to Google, the latest upgrade boosts the amount of data saved by up to 70 percent. The system removes most images when loading a page on a slow connection. After the page has loaded, the user may elect to show all images or only the ones desired. The first consumers eligible for the expanded Data Saver mode will be in India and Indonesia, and more countries will be added in the coming months.

Tarifica’s Take

As we have written on a number of occasions recently, data usage in developing markets is rapidly increasing, aided by expanding 4G/LTE services, free data offers, inexpensive new smartphones and publicity outreach. Google and Facebook have both been proactive in making high-speed data available and affordable in new markets. Google’s Data Saver upgrade serves this aim by making internet use easier in places like India and Indonesia where data hunger is on the rise but network speeds are still catching up to demand. As these markets grow toward their potential, stopgap measures like Data Saver will become unnecessary.