There is little doubt that India’s frontline position on information technology (IT) is guaranteed.

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Em­­erging as a global IT hub, its new generation is tech-savvy and learning fast, has vast numbers and is competitive in many ways. Once the infrastructure is in place, bingo, it’s going to be action stations all the way.

So what if India bec­­omes a broadband acc­ess free country?

Secretary of the Internet Service Providers Asso­ciation of India Naresh Ajwani says:“ Des­pite the fact that we are a knowledge based society, we are yet to take advantage of IT. Our large population is not a weakness but strength and if this information revolution reaches all, not only will they be benefited but also empowered.”

Ajwani says making facilities available online is the only solution to overcome the challenge of inf­rastructure and other resources. “More than platform challenge, it is the intent that has to be demonstrated – we have 1.8 lakh cyber cafes facilitating over 1,200 million broadband access sessions, but they are not being encouraged. We cannot ignore such capacity.”

“We must popularise the cheaper cybercafe platform,” he says and insists on quick advent of WIMAX, 3G and mobile number portability solution.

Former Tra) adviser SN Gupta said: “If the governments wants, it can spend only Rs 10,000 crore and connect broadband to every household, just like water connections.”