It is estimated that as many as 121 million Indians are logged onto the internet. It is a sizeable number, but still a relatively small proportion of the country?s 1.2 billion population. Of this, only 2% of rural India has access to the Web, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). And if that wasn?t bad enough, a recent study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences pointed out that around 18% of rural internet users walk over 10 km to access a computer with an internet connection.
While the urban-rural divide remains a challenge, the quality of the nation?s connections also remains among the poorest in the world. Akamai?s ?State of the Internet? report asserted that 35% of India?s connections are less than 256 Kbps.
Recent figures from Pando Networks ranks India at 108th in the world with an average connection speed of 184 Kbps.
All countries in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australia have deployed or are in the process of deploying high throughput satellites (HTS) using the new Ka band to enable delivery of ubiquitous and affordable countrywide broadband applications. Of the operational satellites in space today, more than half are dedicated to communications uses. These satellites complement terrestrial communications network, enabling people across the globe to communicate. Due to their unique advantage of large coverage range, and independence from most terrestrial networks failures, satellites are strategic assets for ensuring continuous information flow among people, businesses and governments when terrestrial network connections are disrupted. Satellite enabled broadband therefore emerges as a critical link in the overall broadband service provider chain comprising of wireline and wireless and remains one that is best equipped to serve marginal and remote communities, without the high cost and difficult deployment of terrestrial networks.
Apart from the obvious benefits to the modern workforce, there is immense opportunity to a more traditional workforce such as farmers and those engaged in more traditional occupations. Reliable and consistent broadband connectivity is also critical to improve access to medical services, education, e-government and other services that are hard to find and expensive in remote communities. For example, projects utilising satellite broadband, such as universal service obligation projects (USO) in Indonesia and education networks in India, have had a significant impact on the development of populations. The challenges in India and other developing regions across the world require the use of technology that can be deployed quickly and at low cost to create rapid impact.
In 2010, for example, during the devastating earthquake in Haiti, trained medical representatives used a satellite broadband network to provide crucial health care services, including sharing X-rays with medical experts across continents to get the quickest possible help to victims. Similarly, communities in northern India receive second opinion services using satellite broadband. Trained medical representatives help elderly and low income citizens connect with a panel of experts in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai by sending scans of their reports and medications. Innumerable patients benefit from this simple service and it also helps avoid unnecessary travel and consultation costs.
The reliable and ubiquitous nature of satellite networks was the reason why the Indian government created the EduSat project, which helps connect India?s education infrastructure, to enable the delivery of interactive distance learning programmes. The acceptance of this technology is so high that it is also being adopted by private industry players in India.
In an effort to speed up access to government services, the Indian government created a public private partnership (PPP) model in which the government, rather than providing capital subsidies, instead provides revenue support for internet kiosks set up by private industry across the country. More than 40% of the functional kiosks of the first lot of 100,000 kiosks or common service centres (CSCs) use satellite technology, and communities now enjoy much easier access to government services. Access to electronic land record certificates, for instance, helps Indian farmers get loans from local banks. In total, the government has identified 22 applications they will make available to Indian citizens, improving local governance and administration, and potentially increasing the GDP for local communities, which in turn, improves the human development index (HDI) for the community.
Initiatives such as e-Choupal have successfully been able to leverage the internet to empower small and marginal farmers. The programme provides farmers with know-how, services, timely and relevant weather information, transparent price discovery and access to wider markets?all through a mobile device that feeds off a wider network. This has helped roughly 4 million farmers to better manage risk. Imagine the benefits if similar models were replicated across other sectors across rural sectors?cottage industries, fisheries, and others.
Satellite technology continues to support governments and businesses in their pursuit to provide a level playing field to communities. The technology serves many small pockets of communities?without the high cost and lengthy deployment needed for terrestrial networks. In addition, advances in satellite technology continue to bring down the costs of ownership and use associated with satellite networks.
The government recognises the opportunities satellite broadband technology provides and will reap significant benefits as it connects urban and rural communities and improves access to health care, education, and government services?enabling local communities to better meet their social and economic goals.
If inclusive growth is India?s goal, policy makers need to treat broadband connectivity as critical infrastructure, just like roads, airports and power to enable every citizen whether rural or urban to participate in?and benefit from?the global information revolution and contribute to the balanced and sustained growth of India.
The writer is president, Hughes Network Systems India
