Broadband Drives India's Economy and Society, Creating Jobs and Empowering Citizens
Broadband's impact on India's economy and society is profound, driving job creation, empowering citizens, and fostering growth. A recent CII report, 'Digital Inclusion', highlights these aspects, with rural India set to gain significantly in the coming years.
India's broadband subscriber growth has been remarkable, with a 35% annual increase, largely due to smartphone penetration and affordable data prices. As of March 2020, an Indian user consumes 11 GB of data monthly, one of the highest globally. The Covid-19 lockdowns further boosted usage for work, learning, and entertainment.
The 'Digital Inclusion' report predicts that IoT and AI applications could create over 2.8 million jobs in rural India over the next 8-10 years. This is complemented by Bharat Net phase 2, expected to generate around 10 crore man days of employment. Already, rural broadband subscribers have surged from 12% to 29.1% between March 2018 and March 2020. Despite this, only 3% of users consume fixed broadband, indicating substantial growth potential.
Broadband's economic impact is undeniable, with job creation, increased efficiency, and consumer surplus being key benefits. As data prices remain the cheapest in the world at USD 0.15 per GB, India is well-positioned to harness the power of broadband for inclusive development.
