(a) whether the Government has taken note that the country has been included in a group of Least Connected Countries (LCCs) in global information and communication technology rankings released by the International Telecommunication Union in the recent past;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) & (b) Yes. The International Telecommunication Union has developed a composite index called ICT Development Index (IDI) in 2008 and it includes 11 parametres covering ICT access, ICT Use and ICT skills with different weights primarily to measure ‘digital divide’. As per the rankings of IDI for 2012, India scored an index value of 2.21 and was ranked at 121st position. The Countries having an index value of 2.33 below are categorized into a group called Least Connected Countries (LCCs).
(c) The government’s Digital India program is aimed at to create ‘Broadband Highways’ across cities, towns and villages providing connectivity in the country. Apart from providing connectivity, there are plans to enhance digital literacy through capacity building programs in regional languages. The initiatives under the Digital India program include Broadband to Gram Panchayats, Universal access to Mobile Connectivity, Public Internet Access through wifi services& Community Service Centres, e-Governance, e-Kranti (Electronic Delivery of Services), Information for all etc.
There are several parameters in which there is significant progress viz. number of mobile connections, number of mobile broadband subscribers, number of ICT users etc. The Government has taken measures to augment available spectrum through upcoming auctions for 2G, 3G services in 2015. This will support in enhancing data services and number of mobile connections.
The above initiatives will enhance the ICTs penetration and ICT applications use through various development programs resulting in improvement in the ICT Development Index (IDI).