India has emerged as leading telecom market at global stage, internet connectivity reached 95 crore people: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Scindia, while addressing a press conference on achievements of the Ministry of Communication, said the "Prime Minister's objective was to develop a 4G stack for BSNL that incorporates foreign technology while also positioning India as a technology equipment producer. This reflects our capability and determination, which aligns with the Prime Minister's vision.

"Today, India is among the six countries globally that have established it's own 4G technology, making us the sixth nation in the world to achieve this self-reliance," said Scindia.

"In the past hundred days, we have erected and commissioned 7,258 towers. In the last hundred days, we have provided full communication services in 9,560 of those villages, and our second focus is on the infrastructure," stated the Union Minister.

Speaking on connectivity rate, Scindia said, "The English word "ubiquitous" means that connectivity should be shared with everyone, and it's essential to keep a check on connectivity rates. I am pleased to mention that the Prime Minister's vision of "connectivity for all, accessibility to all, and affordability to all has led to a significant reduction in mobile connectivity rates, which were approximately 51 paise per minute in 2014 and now stand at about 3.5 paise per minute--a decrease of 94 per cent."

"We have also seen a similar situation with internet rates, where the cost of 1 GB of connectivity was around 287 paise, and now it has dropped to about 8.75 paise per GB, reflecting a 95 per cent reduction in internet connectivity rates. This demonstrates an increase in penetration and proliferation," said Scindia.

Adding further, the Union Minister said, "In March 2023, India launched the 6G Vision initiative, focussing on advancing two main objectives: innovation and research. The DOT has invited proposals from the industry, and so far, 111 project proposals have been processed for funding. Under the accelerated research and 6G ecosystem, we have set a goal to establish 100 5G labs across various institutions in the country. We have established 81 across India so far."

The Union Minister also spoke on the 100-day achievement of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region and said, "In 2014, Rs 24,819 crore was spent based on 10 per cent of the Gross Budgetary Support (GPS) in the northeastern states. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, an investment of Rs 1,02,000 crore has been made in the eight northeastern states, which is almost more than four times the amount compared to the last ten years."

"In the field of education, 850 new schools have been established in northeastern states. In the healthcare sector, an investment of Rs 32,000 crore has been made. Cancer is a significant challenge in the northeastern states, and the Tata Cancer Institute has been given the approval to establish 18 centres in the northeastern states, out of which 7 have been fully developed and is operational today," added Scindia.

Scindia further said, "In the upcoming December, from the 6-8, the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav will be organised at Bharat Mandapam, showcasing eight northeastern states."

"This event will feature handicrafts, handlooms, agricultural produce, crafts, and tourism from all eight states, offering an opportunity to present these to both national and international audiences," he added. (ANI)