Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, Government of India
India’s rapid digital growth, driven by affordable data and world-class digital public infrastructure, has transformed communication, commerce and public services. At a recent event organised by Broadband India Forum, Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, Government of India, underscored broadband as a transformative engine of opportunity and emphasised the urgent need to move from broadband availability to broadband excellence, supported by multi-technology connectivity, resilient infrastructure, indigenous innovation and strong cybersecurity. Edited excerpts from his speech…
India’s digital journey over the past decade has been extraordinary. We have built one of the world‘s largest internet user bases and one of the most affordable data markets globally. This affordability revolution has fuelled entrepreneurship, e-commerce, digital payments, online education, telehealth and remote work. Our digital public infrastructure, such as Aadhaar, the unified payments interface (UPI), DigiLocker and Fastag, has become a global benchmark for scale, speed and inclusion. Our G20 Presidency highlighted how countries across the global south now look to India as a model for digital transformation that is both inclusive and low cost.
However, the next leap will not come from platforms alone. It will come from the strength and depth of broadband, and from the creation of digital highways that reach every household, enterprise and citizen. As we move towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, broadband is not simply a telecom service. It is the backbone of the economy and the foundation of the digital sovereignty, manufacturing competitiveness, future jobs and citizen empowerment. To realise this vision, India must shift from broadband availability to broadband excellence. This means high speed, low latency and reliable connectivity at a vast scale. It requires the rapid expansion of fibre-to-the-home, resilient backhaul networks, mass deployment of public Wi-Fi through initiatives like PM-WANI, and the strategic use of fixed wireless access powered by 5G in dense urban areas. Satellite broadband, including low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, will be vital for remote border and island regions. Shared infrastructure corridors will be essential for reducing duplication and ensuring cost efficiency.
The National Digital Communication Policy, 2018, laid an early foundation, and as we deploy 5G and prepare for 6G, our network architecture must be converged, interoperable and future-ready. The Space Policy, 2023, opens the door for private participation in satellite broadband and national LEO capabilities. The drone policy supports the aerial inspection of fibre corridors, disaster response and remote logistics, all of which depend on robust connectivity. Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing policies enable the domestic production of routers, customer premise equipment and network hardware, creating resilience and reducing import dependence. Green energy frameworks provide opportunities to power telecom and data infrastructure sustainably, which will be critical as data consumption and data centre capacity continue to grow. Smart cities, logistics, digital commerce and Industry 4.0 frameworks are intrinsically linked to connectivity. We must also further streamline right-of-way processes, establish common utility corridors, promote shared passive infrastructure and move towards open access fibre networks guided by common standards.
Across the world, we are witnessing defining shifts in broadband. Fixed wireless access is surging as a last mile solution in developed markets. Edge computing and multi-access edge architectures are enabling entirely new applications in augmented and virtual reality, immersive learning, telemedicine, cloud gaming and the emerging metaverse economy. Open radio access networks and software-defined networks are reshaping flexibility and cost structures. Subsea cable expansion is becoming central to geopolitics and data sovereignty. Cybersecurity and zero-trust architectures are now considered fundamental national infrastructure. Global leaders are investing heavily in artificial intelligence-native networking and 6G research to prepare for intelligent autonomous connectivity.
India, with its vast scale and talent, must not merely respond to them but seek to influence standards, innovation ecosystems and supply chains. This will require strong indigenous research and development, domestic manufacturing of network equipment, trust and secure networks, a skilled workforce and content that is accessible in India‘s many languages so that innovation and inclusion progress together.
