NEW DELHI: Internet shutdowns cost India an estimated 2.8 billion dollars (about Rs 204 billion) in 2020, with 8,927 hours of disruption or targeted blackouts, according to a report by a UK-based organisation, Top 10 VPN. The report assessed the global internet shutdown cost to be around $4 billion, with India accounting for nearly 70% of the total losses.
Top 10 VPN, founded by technologist Antonio Argiolas, is a VPN review site that focuses on privacy and security. It used the Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST) to arrive at the economic impact of global shutdowns. COST uses indicators from the World Bank, International Telecommunications Union, Eurostat and U.S. Census to arrive at the impact of internet shutdowns.