Broadband connections exceed 30 lakhs

India has a total of 30.20 lakh broadband connections to end of December 2007. The government is keen to increase the connectivitystatus in a phased manner. Maharashtra and Goa have the largestnumber of boradband connections (6.54 lakhs) followed by Delhi (4.09)Tamil Nadu(4.06) Karnataka (3.32) and Andhra Pradesh (2.34) if we listout the top five states. It is significant to note that out of the total of of 30.2 lakh broadband connections in India, Maharashtra andthe southern states account for 17.66 lakhs connections. Higherconnectivity leads to higher pace of economic and social developmentand can be useful for better disaster management. The eastern statesare poorly linked if we see the figures of West Bengal with 1.65 lakhsand North East states with a mere four thousand (4856) It isheartening to note that the government is setting up one lakh CommonService Centres to cover 6 lakh villages in the country and develop aplatform for furthering better social and commercial goals. The planenvisions such Centres to be set up at front-end delivery points invillage clusters. To put all these plans in place, the government issetting up a National Knowledge Network with the added provision togive tax incentives to the players in the field. The plans arecertainly good on paper, it should not collect dust like many otherprojects.
Dr.ARK PillaiMumbai 21-3-08 Email ID <idfark@gmail.com>