New Delhi: The Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India is planning to invest an additional $13 billion in establishing an optical fibre grid across the nation to boost connectivity and provide affordable internet to all. The government has already invested $8.3 billion in this project bringing the total to well over Rs 1 lakh crores.
Vaishnaw in his recent address also expressed his concerns regarding the dominance of a few big tech companies, while emphasising the need for an alternative model to ensure the democratisation of technology and equal access for all.
He further said that the government is actively working on initiatives and developing indigenous core technologies. By developing indigenous core technologies, the government aims to reduce reliance on external sources and foster innovation within the country.
In an ongoing G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the Age of NFTs, AI, and Metaverse, Vaishnaw said that tech has been “cornered” by a few big tech companies, which is not the right model for evolving society. An alternative is needed to democratise access to technology, he added.
One of the success stories mentioned by the minister was the growth of the UPI platform. Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that the annualised quantum of transactions through UPI has reached an impressive $2 trillion.
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