BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH SKYWARD SOLUTIONS

India's Viksit Bharat vision hinges on high-quality broadband access for all, with Satcom bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth

- TV RAMACHANDRAN

The achievement of the national vision of Viksit Bharat with a consistent GDP growth rate of over 10% makes access to good-quality broadband an indisputable imperative for all citizens of India, whether urban or rural. Most of the Pillars of Digital India are premised on the foundation of high-quality broadband. Inclusivity and 'sab ka sath, sab ka vikas' are paramount.

Despite years of dedicated efforts from the government and the private sector, the issue of inadequate, unreliable, and unaffordable broadband connectivity for the remote, unconnected, and underserved many remains a pressing concern. The urban-rural net connectivity gap, which stands at a staggering 65%, underscores the urgency of the situation.

It may be noted that the above divide does not take into account the technology divide between 2G, 4G, and 5G, nor the divide between superior fixed broadband and more widespread mobile broadband (an estimated 250 million 2G users still exist). None of the terrestrial technologies has succeeded in bridging the divide between net and broadband access.

However, there is hope. Practical and operational challenges and financial viability issues have been and still are being faced in connecting such difficult-to-reach and underserved areas of our vast and diverse country. Here, Satellite Communications (Satcom) can emerge as a real saviour and, if applied appropriately, can help successfully bridge the digital divide, offering a beacon of hope for the future.

THE SATCOM OPPORTUNITY

In 2023, PwC, in collaboration with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACE), industry stakeholders, and space actors, released a significant report titled 'A Decadal Vision for the Space Sector. This report projected that India's satcom sector, valued at USD 2.3 billion, will soar to USD 14.4 billion by 2033.