Growth of Internet in India Five critical steps

Internet penetration rates: BRIC countries

Country Population Penetration %

1100 million

191 million

143 million

1200 million 26.9

34.0

32.3

7.0

India poorest in penetration

India

Russia

Brazil

China

Source: www.internetworldstats.com

Average download speeds

CountryDownload speed Mbps

20.4

15.8

12.8

11

5.1

South Korea

Japan

Sweden

Netherlands

USA

USA is ranked 28th in the world in connection speeds. India is still struggling with 256 kbps as broadband!

Source: Communications Workers of America study 2009

Networked Readiness Index

Part of the WEF Global

Information Technology

Report

India ranked 54 in terms of

use of ICTs for

competitiveness

China has raced past India

over the last few years to

46 while we have dropped

places

Recent initiatives

President Barack Obama spoke of Digital infrastructure in inaugural speech. Followed by $7.2 Billion in funding to build high speed access to homes and businesses in USA

National Broadband Initiative announced to build high speed broadband network to deliver 100mbps connectivity to every home and business in Australia

Why is Internet penetration important?

Recent research by the World Bank finds that for every 10 percentage-point increase in the penetration of broadband services, developing countries can see an increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage points A new study demonstrates that

increased adoption of Internet can accelerate business productivity, thereby generating income, jobs and government revenues in emerging economies

The time is right

Investments in eGovernance

To spur economic growth

Enable inclusive growth

Create jobs Foster innovation

Five critical steps

Recognize data networks and Internet as critical national infrastructureEncourage investments in growth & penetration by promoting both ISPs & telcos

Use national resources to accelerate penetration: copper wire, spectrumBe technology agnostic for multiple forms of connectivity

Promote proliferation of access devices to suit budgets and user needs