A Case from India

1
A Case from India
Workshop on National Internet Policies

• Rishi Chawla
• ISOC - GIPI INDIA
• Director NIXI .IN Registry

2
Internet in India

• From Monopoly to Privitisation
• Internet launched in India by VSNL in 1995
• Monopoly of VSNL ended in Nov 1998

3
Internet in India

• Month/ Year Subscriber Base (Millions)
• Aug' 95 0.01
• Mar' 96 0.05
• Mar' 97 0.09
• Mar' 98 0.14

4
Internet in India

• Month/ Year Subscriber Base (Millions)
• Aug' 95 0.01
• Mar' 96 0.05
• Mar' 97 0.09
• Mar' 98 0.14

5
Internet in India

• The cost to the consumer used to be
• USD 1.5 / hr. including the dial up local call
  charges.

6
Internet in India

• Month /Year Subscriber Base (Millions)
• Mar' 99 0.28
• Mar' 00 0.90
• Mar' 01 3.00
• Mar' 02 3.20
• Mar' 03 3.60
• Sep' 03 3.98
• Dec' 03 4.10

7
Internet in India

• The cost to the consumer now
• Unlimited access Under USD 10 / month on ADSL.
• Dial up is 50 Cents per hour

8
National Internet Policy

• Licensing of ISPs
• Internet Telephony
• Wireless Internet

9
National Internet Policy

• Internet Exchange National Internet Exchange of
  India (NIXI)
• Liberalized .IN Cctld Policy

10
National Internet Policy

• Legislation
• -Adoption of Information Technology Act has
  provided legal framework for E-Commerce by
  giving legal validation to electronic
  transactions and recognising Digital signatures
• - covers cyber crime

11
National Internet Policy

• Amendments to IT Act
• Assessment of local towns Internet not easily
  available everywhere Reasons low PC penetration
  Corruption

12
National Internet Policy

• E-governance projects
• Advocating Lower Internet Access Tariffs
• Role of Public Consultations

13
National Internet Policy

• Importance of National Policy

14
Thanks for listening

• Rishi Chawla
• rishi_at_gipi.org.in
• Rishi_at_isoc.org.in