Microsoft has announced its plans to bring Internet connectivity across the country completely free of cost. Less than 20% of India's 1.25 billion population currently has access to the internet, compared to around 85% in the US and almost 90% in the UK. As revealed to Hindustan Times, Microsoft has proposed to make use of the “white space” or the unused spectrum between two TV channels, to make Internet connectivity to a vast population an economically-viable solution.
The huge social networking giant (Facebook) and the most popular search engine (Google) are already working on their internet beaming drones and Project Loon (which involves placing balloon in high attitudes in the stratosphere) to provide internet access to remote areas across the country. Microsoft, not wanting to be left behind, will join them soon.
Wifi has a range of only about 100 metres, whereas the 200-300 MHz spectrum band available in the white space can reach up to 10 km. This spectrum belongs mainly to Doordarshan and the government and is not used at all. We have sought clearance for a pilot project in two districts. The challenge is the lack of digital infrastructure across India. This initiative addresses this challenge in a cost-effective manner and creates an eco-system that will benefit everyone, including manufacturers of routers and other technology devices, other technology companies, besides Microsoft.
“The challenge is the lack of digital infrastructure across India. This initiative addresses this challenge in a cost-effective manner and creates an eco-system that will benefit everyone, including manufacturers of routers and other technology devices, other technology companies, besides Microsoft,” Pramanik said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made wider access to the internet one of his key priorities through the Digital India project. It is hoped that internet access can deliver governance and other services to every citizen in India, even those in remote areas.
The space between TV channels operates on a similar spectrum to what is used for 4G and has been proved as a means of delivering broadband internet, though it has not been not widely tested. The Microsoft initiative aims to provide a significant boost to Modi's slogan of "IT + IT = IT" - standing for "Indian talent plus information technology equals India tomorrow" - while also benefiting his local manufacturing Make India campaign.
Microsoft, which was part of an international consortium that included BT, Nokia and BBC, conducted the most widespread field trials on white space-based Internet connectivity in Cambridge, US, in 2011. The technology hasn’t been widely adopted anywhere in the world, but experts believe it can lead to a spurt in broadband connectivity in countries such as India. Engineers at Microsoft development centres in India have adapted this unlicenced technology for this country.
The project will initially run as a pilot in two districts and if successful it will reportedly be possible to "quickly" roll out the technology across the whole country.
The ambitious Digital India project envisages providing broadband connectivity across the country by connecting 250,000 gram panchayats via optic fibre cables, thereby providing digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, digital governance and services on demand and digitally empowering all citizens.