Praveen Cherian, Chief Executive Officer, Global Services Business, STL
As an advocate for progress, I firmly believe that providing widespread internet connectivity to the most remote parts of the country is crucial to achieving greater heights of development. From promoting entrepreneurship to transforming education and healthcare, bridging the digital divide can revolutionise the socio-economic situation and open new avenues for growth.
Aparna Krishnan, a local woman from Paalaguttapalle, Andhra Pradesh, formed a group of women in the village to stitch eco-friendly bags and leveraged social media to connect with customers across India and overseas. Today, her business has sold around 50,000 bags and is continuing to grow. This success story proves the transformative power of internet connectivity in even the remotest parts of the country.
Though there have been recent improvements in rural internet connectivity, there is still much progress to be made, as only 37 per cent of rural India has internet coverage. Fibre connectivity in these areas can foster economic growth and generate more job and business prospects.
What can uninterrupted internet connectivity in villages do?
Undoubtedly, improving rural internet connectivity will have significant positive effects on the country’s socio-economic development. According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, there has been a remarkable 200 per cent increase in internet penetration in rural areas from 2015 to 2021. The growth of the internet in rural areas was even more significant during the Co-vid-19 pandemic, with the government calling it a “major shock absorber” when both businesses and consumer demand were impacted. Digital payments have witnessed 13 per cent growth over 2021 to reach an estimated 338 million users, of which 36 per cent are from rural India.
However, despite 70 per cent of the country’s population residing in rural areas, the number of internet connections in urban areas still exceeds that of rural areas. This indicates the potential for even greater economic growth if rural internet connectivity is further improved. Studies suggest that every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can increase GDP growth by 1.38 per cent, further highlighting the importance of rural internet connectivity for the country’s future growth. By 2030, over 1 billion Indians are expected to have access to high speed internet, which will not only increase literacy rates but also open up new opportunities for rural populations in their respective regions.
By 2025, around 56 per cent of new internet users are expected to come from the hinterland, as the country’s internet users are projected to reach 900 million in two years. Improved digital connectivity can transform the lives of rural communities, providing easy access to healthcare, education, social welfare and more. This can bridge the gap between urban and rural populations, eliminating the need for people to travel long distances in search of better opportunities.
Let’s do rural connectivity right!
The government has an essential role to play in driving this transformation. Initiatives such as the BharatNet project, which aims to provide high speed internet connectivity to rural areas, are a step in the right direction. However, we need more public-private partnerships to drive digital transformation in rural areas as this will help India achieve its $5 trillion economy goal.
While the internet connectivity, quality of service, and affordability have improved, there still is a need to press the pedal to the metal for greater rural connectivity; this can be done by:
- Connecting the unconnected by bringing fibre, wireless and satellite to villages: To achieve ubiquitous connectivity in rural India, a converged digital network utilising fibre, wireless and satellite technology is necessary. Fibre will provide high capacity and bandwidth, while wireless and satellite technologies will offer mobility and coverage in areas where it is challenging and expensive to deploy traditional coverage.
- Rapid and efficient implementation of technology-driven solutions: Initiatives such as BharatNet and the National Broadband Mission are progressing rapidly, resulting in a speedy deployment of fibre networks. Deploying fibre networks through preconfigured elements using unified deployment platforms can be highly beneficial. This approach can avoid misinterpretation and enable more efficient deployment of fibre in rural areas, resulting in a faster and more cost effective implementation.
- Special policy framework: It is imperative to create a specific policy framework that addresses critical elements such as penetration of use cases, diverse investment models, and uniform standards for permissions..
I truly believe that empowering rural communities through digital connectivity is crucial to achieving this goal. The transformative power of the internet in villages cannot be overstated, as it has the potential to revolutionise industries and uplift the lives of rural communities. It is imperative for the industry to recognise its responsibility and take on an active role in driving this transformation for the greater good of the nation.
