The Centre is keen to fasten the completion of National Broadband project that has already been delayed by over three years. The role of State Governments will be very crucial in completion of the project, which will not only provide a technological edge to the country but will also be helpful in attracting Foreign Investors to the country.
With the fast tracking of the project - considered to be the backbone of the Digital India Initiative – the telecommunication sector would get a major boost, thereby improving the investment climate of India to a considerable extent. Incidentally, Digital India, which acts as an umbrella plan to integrate and synchronise all digital initiatives including the National Broadband project and the domestic manufacturing policy, has an ambitious outlay of Rs 1.13 trillion over a period of three-five years.
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The Centre aims to involve the State Governments for giving an impetus to the project. The task can consequently be speeded up only when the States take up the role of the direct stakeholders. The high-speed network that would become feasible will turn more efficient in delivering Government e-services to the common man. While the project, when crystallised will ensure e-services in areas like health, education and banking, it will also bring e-services to the rural end-consumers in homes, schools, hospitals, banks, etc. The aim is not merely to speed up the national broadband rollout but also to create an enabling business environment, especially since some of the world's top technology firms are keen to partner with the Centre in delivering last-mile internet connectivity to the remotest corners of India. The empowerment of the masses will be the net result.
The State Government bureaucrats will be overseeing and monitoring the execution of plan and to ensure that the bottlenecks are removed without any undue delay. Needless to say, the plan would necessitate involving private companies in areas like infrastructure providers, telecoms and content developers for hastening the process. While the negative fall-outs of the Vodafone case and the 2-G scan had cast its shadows on the investment environment t of the country, the present initiative will hopefully bring renewed interest in India’s technology space amongst the major foreign investors.
Author : Syed Zafar Ahmad
Designation: Executive Editor
Bio: A freelancer with a flair for experimenting with innovative technology and electronic gadgets that could enrich the life of a modern common man, and a consultant in issues touching every-day life of a computer suave professional.
Bio: A freelancer with a flair for experimenting with innovative technology and electronic gadgets that could enrich the life of a modern common man, and a consultant in issues touching every-day life of a computer suave professional.
