How to provide internet to masses?

Some of the ideas that can be implemented in providing internet to masses are:

1. Leveraging high volume low cost revenue model.

2. Making internet usage pervasive through self service internet services whether its for Booking railway tickets, getting a monthly bus pass or receiving any Government initiated social benefits(linking Bank account to a centralized database). The automation brought in implies less manpower employed at these service access points and crores saved in turn.

Establishing internet based services will help the rural masse to join with the world at large and with their own country in particular.The bsnl should start free services begining half an hour and charge Rs.1/- per 10 minutes for a period of 5 years.The time slot should be selected by bsnl for browsing.

In my view, if govt wants to bring more and more people to internet, they must provide it at affordable price. Now a days broadband in India is a costly affair, which is the main cause for lack of internet users in India compared to other developing countries. The main aim must be, to establish and sustain a world-class infrastructure, which in turn would facilitate affordable Internet services to the aam aadmi.

Technologies that provide wiress broadband through cost effective set top boxes that even provide Television into the homes of masses is the solution. I have known of one such promoted by an enterprenuer in Bangalore.

BSNL and other rural services providers should be provided with landline instruments with small display and keyboard (similar to blackberry instruments) though which they can access basic internet services like email, news, railway reservations and other informations. These instruments can be subsidised by the government.

Also, innovative ideas by local business community, NGOs, Local government etc. (like advertisement through such instruments) can help the service providers to recover the cost. 

Initially the speed may be slow. Once people realise the importance, may pay for paid services for speed and quality.

Regards,

Ashutosh Rai

Before getting into provision of Internet for masses, first and foremost is to step up the awareness level of people by educating and informing them about benefits of using Internet. Awareness of people about Internet would propel them to demand Internet facilities in their area.

 Next step is to gear up development of the infrastructure needed to proliferate Internet facilities on priority basis.

Developing Internet infrastructure would not only merely mean providing Internet access through WiFI, WiMax, GPRS etc. but also setting up Internet Kiosks/Cafes as well as providing broadband connectivity,  computers/Internet appliances at affordable rates. Development of Internet services and related Internet applications are other steps in the right direction.

Also, since cell phones have already caught up the fancy of common people , it would not be a lesser Idea to promote mobile Internet access through GPRS etc.

if we are talking a about masses then we should first talk abt the rural consumer specially to farmers.......as 70% of the indians belong frm rural areas........

we should first make them aware & educate  about the usage nd benefits of the internet. (like current rates of the crops)...and the internet site should be available in the regional languages and also the infrastructres like (cyber cafe's)  ..........and yes  of course, the cheap intermet connection

Apart from just the connectivity issues.....either we need to educate everyone in English or ensure the computer understands the user's language. I think it might be faster for the computer to adapt to us than for people to adapt to the computer.

So a hand-held device like a tablet, with pen-paper (stylus) type interface which can interact with the user in the users local language might spread the fastest. Even then a lot of people can only speak not read or write their language and they have an inherent fear of technology because it has always been for the "highly educated" .

First step should be taken by Govt to make reforms, come up with policies and most importantly IMPLEMENT them ASAP.  Because the way in which the WiMAx issue has got totally shrouded for almost 2 yrs now, it is very difficult to bring about change at mass level.  And when the world is moving towards 4G , India has not even started the 3G service just because of few crappy illiterate politicians, who have no idea about it and just keep dragging the issue for their own personal gains !!

I suggest they should bring someone like Nandan Nilekani for Telecom as they did for UID project.  Only then professionalism will come and work will get done that too of highest caliber.

And second most important thing is involving private parternship, this will not only expedite the process of setting up infrastructure in time bound manner but also will make sure that latest technology is used, which i guess will get missing if Govt alone takes part.  Rather if the govt does it alone then there is a fair chance of the project getting delayed which will make the technology used as obsolete by then !!! ;-)

So these two important steps, more importantly the first one is very vital for mass level impact as desired.

I really really hope that something of this sort happens in near future.

In my opinion, Wimax will play a prime role in spreading Internet to the masses. India is a big country with diverse geographical spread and a population of about 1 billion. But only half a percent of it has access to Internet due to lack of infrastructure. Building telecommunication infrastructure to cover the entire nation involves huge cost. High-speed wireless broadband technology based on Wimax promises an economically viable solution to accelerating the Internet adoption that can revolutionize lifestyles.

Investing in making bigger cities or small town wi-fi enabled or providing higher speeds through Lan wouldn't work until there are people with desktops and laptops. I guess better option is to make internet available through mobile phones since usage of mobile is increasing at better pace and it's a habit for all.

People living in semi urban areas should get internet faclility in much lower price .Also  every government  school should have internet facility  and should mainitain proper trainer for students .They should educate students with online reservation , online exams and getting useful information from the net for their daily activities . 

Regional languages are the only way through which people from rural india can communicate and can understand.And this requires total literacy and our country is still facing the challenge of educating the people.if we are able to provide education to every indian , then we can provide internet to masses.Since people from rural areas find it difficult to understand and to communicate in English, we can make them understand the idea of internet through regional languages..

There should be a system like satellite Television, where all category of people can avail the connection on cheaper rate and or it can be a combined system with easy access with out additional cost.  

India must provide cheaper broadband rates to its people

for ex it can start by giving more GB's of usage for the basic 250 plan users and then go on to increase the download limit for other plans also this way after getting used to internet people wil opt for higher plans