The Hindu Business Line : `Broadband access vital for realising socio-economic goals'

CONNECTING PEOPLE: The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, flanked by Secretary-General, Commonwealth, Mr Don McKinnon, and the Minister for IT & Communications, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, at the Commonwealth Connects 2007 International e-Partnership summit, in the Capital on Friday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi March 23 Broadband connectivity is key to realising the stated socio-economic goals, said the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

While speaking at the `Commonwealth Connects 2007, the International e-Partnership Summit' organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Commonwealth Business Council, he said that it is through this network that people living in the villages would be able to access modern education, healthcare services and employment opportunities.

Evolving guidelines for a common telecommunication policy to share resources, network and infrastructure without any barrier and facilitate implementation through a Commonwealth co-ordination centre should be focus of the Commonwealth nations, he added.

He said that Commonwealth Connects 2007 should look at identifying gaps in educational standards of IT professionals in the global business scenario in IT, ITeS and BPO services and creating institutional mechanisms for training, accreditation and grading based on performance.

He urged this platform to also explore the option of creating a common Web portal for sharing information and knowledge among Commonwealth countries and create Commonwealth Connects Fund.

He said the total installed bandwidth capacity is in the range of 19-20 terra bytes and lit-up capacity is progressively increasing with enhanced economic activity, thus making a singular action of making the bandwidth available to every Indian.

The free bandwidth will make economic sense if the Government can appropriately cost the services offered using the bandwidth as India has the fibre infrastructure.

Mr Dayanidhi Maran, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said that Commonwealth Connects is a multi-stakeholder partnership that will enable members to reap benefits of information and communication advancements. Software and ITES exports are likely to exceed $31 billion during current fiscal.

India has drawn up a National e-Governance Plan with 27 mission mode projects for delivering government and private services at the doorstep of the citizen, he said.

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