India’s Expanding Internet Base
- Internet users to touch 1 billion by the end of FY 2024–25, up from 974 million currently.
- Growth from 250 million to nearly 1 billion in just over a decade reflects exponential digital penetration.
- India is already the second-largest telecom market globally.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance) ,GS 3(Technology)
Cheapest Data Rates in the World
- Calling cost dropped from 50 paise/min to 0.003 paise/min.
- Data cost reduced from ₹287/GB to ₹9/GB, making internet more accessible to all socioeconomic segments.
Focus on Innovation & Domestic Production
- Theme of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024: “Innovate to Transform” — urging India to lead in product innovation.
- India shifted from importing 80% of mobile phones to exporting ₹1.75 lakh crore worth of devices.
- India aims to contribute 10% of global 6G patents through the Bharat 6G Alliance.
BharatNet: World’s Largest Rural Connectivity Push
Phase I:
- ~2.14 lakh gram panchayats connected.
- 7 lakh km of optic fibre laid.
Phase II:
- Targeting 2.64 lakh remaining gram panchayats.
- Investment: $16.9 billion (₹1.39 lakh crore) — largest rural digital infra push globally.
New features in BharatNet II:
- More resilient topology to prevent single-point failures.
- MPLS routers to replace older systems.
- 10-year maintenance mandate for implementing agencies.
- Central network operating centre and independent engineering oversight for monitoring.
Telecom Market Competition
- India has 3 private players + 1 state-owned operator — seen as healthy for the market.
- Vodafone Idea (VIL):
- Govt converted ₹37,000 crore of dues into equity (49% stake).
- No plans to raise stake further; VIL expected to manage own finances.
Modernising India Post
- India Post among the largest logistics networks globally.
- Post Office Act, 2023 enables:
- Diversification into insurance, banking, and digital services.
- India Post Payments Bank now profitable 3 years ahead of schedule.
- Plan to introduce Digital Access Codes for every latitude-longitude point in India.
