Nearly 36 per cent of the 16.8 million active Internet users prefer cyber-cafes to access the Internet, according to a new report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB International.

The share of cyber-cafes, though, has been dropping steadily from a peak of 53 per cent in 2003.

The report also found that contrary to popular belief, more users accessed Internet from homes than from offices -- the percentage being 30 and 25 per cent respectively for the year 2007.

Although the percentage of users accessing Internet from schools has gone up from 6 per cent to 7 per cent in 2007, the figure continues to be discouraging considering the fact that schools could become the first access point for young new users between the ages of 8 and 12.

The report also found that the preference for access points was determined by the age and professional background.

Thus, an overwhelming majority of school and college students preferred to access Internet from cyber cafes. While 45 per cent of older men and 46 per cent of non-working women accessed Internet from home.

Subho Ray, president, IAMAI, said: "Access from cyber cafes are being discouraged due to a host of regulatory issues which are discouraging entrepreneurs to set up cyber cafes, while access from schools is being inhibited by a negative mindset about the Internet; these pose a challenge to the faster growth and adoption of the Internet."