Raja launches 'Connected Indians' movement;govt

New Delhi, Aug 28 (UNI) Communications and IT Minister A Raja today today launched an industry-wide movement called the 'Connected Indians' where government, industry associations and private enterprise have come together for the common cause of connecting a billion Indians.

The movement, facilitated by Intel, is intended to mobilise people, resources and infrastructure to connect citizens to information, ideas, people, capital and services leading to overall development and future success.

''The 'Connected Indians' movement will spur effective broadband deployment which in turn will directly contribute to the country's competitiveness. The Internet will be the force that propels India into the next decade,'' Mr Raja said at the launch here.

Intel South Asia's Managing Director (Sales and Marketing Group) R Sivakumar said,''Intel recognises that the Internet is capable of transforming lives and the future of our country. At the same time we also recognise that there is an urgent need for industry and government to collaborate to enable people to connect to the Internet.'' This 'Connected Indians' movement is privileged to be supported by the government, ecosystem partners as well as numerous other industry stalwarts, he said.

Under the movement, Intel and state-owned BSNL will work together to evolve a set of basic standards for building WiMax rollout and applications in the country and develop a pilot WiMax solution specifically for rural markets.

Intel and BSNL will also jointly undertake co-marketing programs to promote BSNL's connectivity and content services.

Various industry bodies such as The Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the WiMax Forum have endorsed this movement.

NIIT will lend support to this movement through its reach to proliferate the benefits of Internet education to citizens through a special course on Internet education and PC fundamentals which will be made accessible at NIIT centres throughout the country.

NIIT will also open up its centres across India to allow people to walk in and go through an introductory module on eLearning.

Tata Communications and Tata Teleservices will collaborate with Intel in a strategic co-marketing program to make broadband and Internet solutions pervasive.

They will, through their range of connectivity solutions, also work with Intel to create awareness amongst citizens on the benefits of the Internet and what it can enable.

Google, Reliance Communications, Croma and Tata Indicom have also pledged their support to this cause.

UNI MP AK AS1850