''Telecom can provide better quality of life to the poor and it can educate the rural masses. Distance learning and creating virtual classrooms would maximise the use of new technologies in telecommunications for the benefits of the poor,'' he said.
Delivering the keynote address through tele-conferencing from Chicago at the CII hosted 'Comtel 2008' on the theme 'Breaking Barriers, Bridging the Divide' here, he said telecom was no longer a vertical business but it should be pervasive in every aspect of India.
Comtel 2008 Chairman and Sasken Communication Technologies Chairman Rajiv G Mody said telecom industry had contributed over Rs 1,00,000 crore to the country's economy in 2006 and it was expected to grow at a CAGR of about 27 per cent to reach over 3.5 lakh crore by 2012.
''The industry is expected to provide direct employment to 2.8 mn people where as seven mn people would get indirect employment.
E-agriculture would reduce procurement costs of farmers by 2.5 per cent which would result in an economic benefit of Rs 6,100 crore.
He said even as the telecom subscriber base was 273 mn now, it was expected to touch 575 mn in three years.
Mr Mody said despite significant growth in the Indian telecom industry, tele-density was low with a visible technology divide between the rural and urban strata. Though it had covered the urban sector extensively with more than 40 per cent coverage, the rural population was relatively untouched by the technology advances and benefits.
''So the large part of the next set of telecom customers would be in the rural areas and rural connectivity would become the next hot issue facing the industry. There are numerous opportunities in the rural areas. The key lies in encouraging local content to help implement e-governance applications and connect rural India for an overall inclusive growth,'' he added.
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Quelle/Source: Deccan Herald, 31.01.2008
