A comprehensive data policy for government of India: analysis and framework; a broadband perspective

Abstract

The telecommunications scene has been changing all across the world for the past two decades. India also has progressed for its contribution to the world statistics. The digital and information revolution has changed the way the world learns, communicates, does business, and treats illnesses. New information and communications technologies offer vast opportunities for progress in all walks of life in all countries opportunities for economic growth, improved health, better service delivery, learning through distance education, and social and cultural advance. (WorldBank Report, 2008). Though there has been an exponential growth on the telephone connections both on wire line and mobile, the progress has not been remarkable on the data front including the broadband services (TRAI, 2009) (Worldbank Website - External, 2008). The broadband penetration has not reached the level which is comparable to other countries, with all the potential and resources of India. This is due to the non- availability of a suitable policy for Data and further to the shortcomings of the existing policies. The project views this lapse seriously and aims at working out a comprehensive data policy in the broadband perspective for the country. The policies implemented across various leading countries of Asia Pacific Community (South Korea and Japan) and USA are studied and analysed to understand their policies, their strategy and methodology of implementation. The suitability of the approach is analysed and appropriate lessons for India has been chosen from the learning of the International arena. Identifying the shortcomings of the existing policies, this paper suggests a framework for India. It also focuses on implementation measures for achieving the higher rate of Broadband penetration on the lines of support required from the regulator and the models that can be adopted for successful penetration of this service. The project also paves the way for the working on a comprehensive data policy in future apart from the Broadband Services as this paper primarily focuses on the Broadband perspective rather than concentrating on the wide and vast area of Data Policy.