Make telecom base for development: Pitroda

Bangalore, Jan 30 (UNI) National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda today advocated application of evolving technologies in varied fields including education for overall development of the country.

"Telecom can provide better quality of life to the rural poor and it is important to use it to educate rural mass. Distance learning and creating virtual classrooms should be done to maximise the use of new technologies in telecommunications to the benefits of the poor," he said.

Delivering the keynote address through tele-conferencing from Chicago at the CII hosted 'Comtel 2008' on the theme 'Breaking Barriers, Bridging the Divide' here, he said telecom was no longer a vertical business but it should be pervasive in every aspects of India.

Comtel 2008 Chairman and Sasken Communication Technologies Chairman Rajiv G Mody said that telecom industry had contributed over Rs 100,000 crore to the country's economy in 2006 and it was expected to grow at a CAGR of about 27 per cent to reach over 3.5 lakh crore by 2012.

"The industry is expected to provide direct employment to 2.8 million people where as seven million people would get indirect employment. E-agriculture would reduce procurement costs of farmers by 2.5 per cent which would result in an economic benefit of Rs 6,100 crore.

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