TRAI to issue consultation paper on strengthening digital inclusion: TRAI Chairman PD Vaghela

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will bring out a consultation paper to further strengthen digital inclusion, looking at three key aspects of devices, connectivity and literacy.

The consultation paper on the issue is expected to be released in the coming months, TRAI Chairman PD Vaghela said on the sidelines of India Digital Summit 2023, organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

Speaking at the event, Vaghela said, "We are planning to come out with a consultation paper to comprehensively address and look at further strengthening digital inclusion in the country." The TRAI Chief also outlined eight challenges and said increased emphasis on these would accelerate digital momentum.

The move assumes significance since 5G device prices at the moment are perceived to be pricier by the masses, even as massive next-generation networks are speedily rolling out across the country.

It is pertinent to mention that 5G services were launched on October 1, 2022, and within a span of 100 days have been rolled out in 200-plus cities across the country.

Referring to the theme of IDS 2023, Amrit Kaal: Digital India@100, Vaghela pointed out the need to re-emphasise the eight crucial governance issues for India’s journey over the next 25 years.

These include:

1) How to revamp digital governance infrastructure

2) Challenges arising out of convergence and reduced investment cycles due to technology disruptions.

3) Identifying appropriate technologies, keeping in mind India’s demographic advantage, the strength of Indians’ IT skills and the strength of the SME sector.

4) Boosting local manufacturing of digital equipment.

5) Keeping technology at the core of policy formulation

6) Practical implementation of the whole of the government approach through a collaborative approach

7) Pursuing a sustainable and equitable whole-of-society approach and ensuring socio-economic, and digital inclusion

8) Strengthening cybersecurity, bringing in vibrant privacy law and protecting citizens from spam and frauds.

India has a demographic advantage in IT talent and a fast-growing start-up culture that can be used to its utmost potential for the country to become a world leader in AI and ML, said Vaghela.

Quoting a PwC research, he said, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could boost the world economy by up to $15.7 trillion by 2030.

In his address, Vaghela extensively spoke about 5G and 6G use cases and how the government was increasingly supporting R&D for different use cases. “The road ahead is full of exciting challenges and opportunities and one thing is certain that the future of India rests on our ability to embrace new technologies, respond to technology disruptions and seize the right opportunities,” he said.

“The Government is already promoting start-up ecosystem and with over 5 billion IT professionals, India already boasts the largest IT talent in the world. And with startups capitalising on digital governance, I am sure that India@2047 will be a force to reckon with,” Vaghela added.

Vaghela in his address said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) intended to regulate the sector with transparency while also promoting competition and safeguarding the rights of citizens.

India has set a shining example globally with its success in the digital public good ecosystem like Aadhaar, UPI and Digilocker, and many countries have approached India for replicating these systems.

"Going forward, we need to focus more on creating a thriving application, an innovation ecosystem, that can use these digital public goods to solve socio-economic problems...

"We need to construct our own distinctive model of digital innovation focused on solving socio-economic issues in contrast with the models that are popular in other developed nations and that largely emphasise on monetary benefits," Vaghela said.

Challenges likely to arise due to "blurring sectoral and national regulatory boundaries in wake of technological convergence", will have to be addressed.

Metaverse, as it develops, will progressively start influencing the Indian socio-economic scene, in a substantial manner.

"In Amrit Kaal, we need to come up with an effective administration and governance structure for the metaverse which may mirror the governance structure of the physical world," the top official said.

Other crucial areas emphasised by Vaghela were around identifying appropriate technologies, keeping in mind demographic advantage, the strength of IT skills and the SME sector, as well as focus on boosting local manufacturing of digital equipment.

Strengthening cybersecurity, bringing in vibrant privacy law and protecting citizens from spam and fraud, were also among the focus areas listed by him.

Vaghela said that TRAI intended to regulate the sector with transparency while also promoting competition and safeguarding the rights of citizens.

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