Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, shared India’s plan to invest additional USD 13 billion, to the prior investment of USD 8.3 billion, to establish an optical fiber grid across the country to boost connectivity. Mr. Vaishnaw also spoke on developing indigenous core technologies to reduce reliance on external sources.

Jul 14, 2023

India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw recently shared that the country is planning to invest an additional amount of USD 13 billion, to the prior investment of USD 8.3 billion, for the establishment of an optical fiber grid across India, in order to boost connectivity and provide affordable internet to all. Mr. Vaishnaw also shared his concerns about the dominance of a few big tech companies and emphasized the need for an alternative model to ensure the democratization of technology and equal access for all. He shared that the government is working actively on initiatives and developing indigenous core technologies. Sharing his views on the sidelines of the ongoing G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the Age of NFTs, AI, and Metaverse, Mr. Vaishnaw shared that tech has been “cornered” by a few big tech companies, which is not the right model for an evolving society.

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Mr. Vaishnaw shared that the Indian government is working towards avoiding this situation, through developing core technologies for various platforms like UPI, the Unified Payments Interface, and Cowin. By developing indigenous core technologies, the government aims to reduce reliance on external sources and foster innovation within the country. Giving the example of UPI, Mr. Vaishnaw shared that the annualized quantum of transactions through UPI has reached an impressive USD 2 trillion. Furthermore, Mr. Vaishnaw acknowledged the importance of connectivity and shared the government’s investments in expanding the reach of 4G networks across the nation. He shared that nearly USD 4.8 billion has been allocated to “saturate the country with 4G coverage,” enabling more citizens to access the benefits of high-speed internet connectivity.