Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute, in Washington DC has come up with its Network Readiness Report,  2024.  

India’s Performance in Network Readiness 
India has improved its ranking in network readiness drastically from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024 and raking from 60th in 2023 to 49th in 2024. Other matrices of the report have ranked India as: 
01.    1st in ‘AI scientific publications’, ‘AI talent concentration’, and ‘ICT services exports.’ 
02.    2nd in  ‘FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions’, ‘Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country’, and ‘International Internet bandwidth.’ 
03.    3rd in  ‘Domestic market scale’ 
04.    4th in ‘Annual investment in telecommunication services.

The 6th edition of the Network Readiness Report ranks India 2nd in the group of lower-income countries, just after Vietnam. 

Metrics of Network Readiness Report 
The report maps the network readiness of the 133 economies on Four different metrics: 
01.    Technology, 
02.    People, 
03.    Governance, and 
04.    Impact 
It further considers 54 other variables also to rank the economies determining their network readiness. 

India’s Efforts 
India's impressive performance in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024 is the latest milestone in its journey towards becoming a digital powerhouse. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been instrumental in driving this transformation.

Key achievements over the past decade:
●    Enhanced Connectivity: Tele-density has surged from 75.2% to 84.69%, ensuring a wider reach of telecommunication services.
●    Wireless Revolution: The number of wireless connections has reached a staggering 119 crore, facilitating seamless communication nationwide.
●    Digital India's Impact: The Digital India initiative has been pivotal in bridging the digital divide, especially in rural areas. Partnerships with tech companies have significantly increased internet subscribers, from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore. Wireless internet usage has also witnessed substantial growth.
●    Regulatory Reforms: Progressive reforms in spectrum management, ease of doing business, and consumer protection have further bolstered the telecommunications sector.

India's strong performance in the NRI 2024 reflects its commitment to building a robust digital infrastructure and empowering its citizens.

India's ascent in the Network Readiness Index is a testament to its growing digital prowess. Fueled by investments in emerging technologies, robust telecom infrastructure, and the ambitious Bharat 6G Vision, India is poised to lead the future of telecommunications.

Report, Data & Graphs Sourced from PIB Press Release