Digital India Growth
India today is among the few countries in the world where 99% of the population has access to 4G and 5G network is available in 82% of the areas. Yet approximately 69 crore Indians are still cut off from the internet. This shocking figure was shared by GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath from the platform of India Mobile Congress.
According to him, India’s real digital challenge is no longer network but something else. That is, the technology is present, but many people are not able to use it because either they do not have a smartphone, or they do not know how to use it.
Satellite will not be the solution
Nowadays satellite broadband companies like Starlink and OneWeb are in the news. These companies claim to provide internet to remote areas. But GSMA Director General clearly says that satellite technology can only fill the coverage gap, that is, it can help a little where there is no network. But India’s real problem is not coverage but the ability to connect.
Three big barriers: phone, skills and language
GSMA said that there are three big walls standing in the way of Digital India, first is the affordability of smartphones, second is digital literacy or skills and third is the lack of relevant content in the local language. Although data in India is the cheapest in the world, but even today many people are not able to buy a good smartphone.
The picture of Digital India is wonderful, but incomplete
India’s digital transformation has happened rapidly. The speed of 5G rollout is considered to be the fastest in the world. More than 36 crore people have been connected to the 5G network. But GSMA’s “Digital Nation India” report shows that half of India’s population is still away from the internet. GSMA especially emphasized that the digital divide is not just about smartphones or networks, but also includes the gender gap. Women are 33% more likely to be cut off from the internet than men.
Online fraud: another big concern
Another big problem is the fear of online fraud. According to reports, about 50% of Indians have been victims of online fraud at some point of time. Due to this people are afraid to use the internet. GSMA said that to fight this problem, banks, telecom and tech companies will have to come together and work.