COAI Launches “Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas” to Connect 1 Billion Unconnected Citizens

COAI, the association of India’s top mobile service operators, telecom equipment manufacturers, infrastructure and content service providers, represented by the CEOs of its member companies, today announced “Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas”, an initiative to connect the 1 Billion unconnected citizens of India.

Launching the online platform www.sabkainternet.in, COAI reiteratred that the Internet should be for all and not remain the preserve of a few. The Association invited all stakeholders to have a comprehensive and informed debate on the subject of Net Neutrality to develop a framework that caters to the infrastructure and diverse socio-economic needs of the country.

The leadership team of the member companies of COAI, namely - Mr. Ashok Sharma of Aircel, Mr. Gopal Vittal of Airtel, Mr. Himanshu Kapania of Idea Cellular, Mr. Shanker Adawal of Reliance Jio, Mr. Rajiv Bawa of Telenor, Mr. Arvind Bali of Videocon, and Mr. Sunil Sood of Vodafone India, were present to reaffirm their commitment to “Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas” programme and promote Net Equality.

Elaborating its position on the ongoing public debate over net neutrality, and concerns over operators allegedly controlling consumers’ access to the Internet, the association stated:

• We support an open Internet and believe that consumers should decide what to do online. Our job is to enable consumers to benefit from that freedom.

• We offer choice and do not block or provide any preferential access to any web site or app.

COAI also underlined its commitment to the Digital India programme and called for an open, inclusive and affordable access to the Internet for every Indian; emphasizing that India’s telecom revolution has empowered over 950 million citizens through affordable services and the Internet revolution must now touch every citizen of the country.

However, In terms of Internet penetration, India is ranked 142^nd presently, way below some of its neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Further, Internet users are expected to reach over 500 million by 2018 – making India the second largest population of Internet users in the world. Hence, innovations would be required across the ecosystem – affordable smartphones, more efficient networks, a vibrant OTT ecosystem, even more broad ranging applications (especially in areas such as education, health, governance) and pricing flexibility – that promotes greater digital inclusion; in order to achieve the Digital India dream.

About COAI:

COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non-governmental society. COAI’s vision is to establish India as the global leader of innovative mobile communications infrastructure, products and services and achieving a national tele-density of 100%, including broadband. The association is also dedicated to the advancement of modern communication and towards delivering the benefits of innovative and affordable mobile communication services to the people of India.

www.coai.in

APPROACH TO NET EQUALITY

Create an Enabling and Equal Environment

Without infrastructure and investment, there will be no Internet access. The operators have invested billions of dollars in acquisition of spectrum, license fees, spectrum fees and network roll-outs. Yet the Industry still makes negative return on the capital employed.

The industry estimates the country would need an additional capital outay of over INR 500,000 crores over the next 10 years in spectrum, new technology, equipment, towers, optical fibre backbone, etc., to meet the PM’s vision of Digital India, and connect 1 billion Indians to the exciting world of Internet. The need of the hour, therefore, is to have a sustainable industry that has the ability to invest in growth of data services and connectivity to all.

Promote Innovation to Enable Internet for All

India has over 950 million mobile subscribers - the second largest in the world. This growth was enabled by innovation across the ecosystem – in our ever expanding complex networks, outsourcing models, infrastructure sharing, innovative pricing structures – that allowed operators to offer customers some of the most innovative and affordable call rates in the world.

We need the same spirit to connect a Billion Indians to the Internet. This means innovations across the ecosystem – affordable smartphones, more efficient networks, a vibrant OTT ecosystem, even more broad ranging applications (especially in areas such as education, health, governance) and pricing flexibility – that promotes greater digital inclusion. Only then can our citizens in rural India, or from a lower economic strata, be empowered through internet access.

Ensure the Same Rules Apply to Same Services to Get Internet Access to the Common Man

We believe that our role is to enable all services to reach customers across the country. One of the key factors to enable this is that the same rules must apply to the same types of services, including Mobile and IP Voice services. This is the only way to ensure digital inclusion and bring about social and economic good to the common man.

Make Internet Access Pro-Consumer, Pro-Choice

We should ensure customers have the freedom to choose how they want to access the Internet. A customer should be free to choose the device, technology and access platform – paid or subsidized as long as the Internet is always open in terms of access in a non-discriminatory manner. We support this! The interests of a few should not dictate the fundamental right of a customer to choose what he/she wants.