India has risen 11 places in the latest Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024), securing the 49th rank globally, the government announced on Wednesday.
The country not only improved its ranking but also increased its score from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024, according to the index published by the Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational organization based in Washington, DC.
Notably, India leads in several indicators, such as AI, FTTH Internet subscriptions, and mobile broadband internet traffic, according to the Ministry of Communications.
India ranked first in “AI scientific publications,” “AI talent concentration,” and “ICT services exports.” It also secured second place in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions,” “mobile broadband internet traffic within the country,” and “international internet bandwidth.” Additionally, it ranked third in “domestic market scale” and fourth in “annual investment in telecommunication services.”
The report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 133 economies, assessing their performance across four pillars—technology, people, governance, and impact—using 54 variables.
According to the report, India has demonstrated significant digital progress, showcasing strengths in technological innovation and digital transformation.
India’s performance in NRI 2024 is part of a series of advancements in the telecommunications sector. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made remarkable progress in enhancing India’s telecommunication infrastructure.
Over the past decade, teledensity has risen from 75.2% to 84.69%, while wireless connections have reached 119 crore. The Digital India initiative has played a crucial role in expanding broadband access to rural areas through partnerships with technology companies. This has led to a sharp increase in internet subscribers, from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore, alongside a significant rise in wireless internet usage.
Moreover, the launch of 5G services in 2022 has boosted India’s global mobile broadband speed ranking, elevating it from 118th to 15th position.
India now aims to establish itself as a leader in next-generation telecom technologies through the Bharat 6G Vision.
(Inputs from IANS)
