New Delhi: India has climbed up eleven slots to be among the top 50 countries in the Network Readiness Index 2024. The country is now placed at 49th rank as per the Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024) report released on November 21, 2024. It ranked 60 in the NRI 2023 report. The report is published by the Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC.
In its latest version of 2024, the NRI report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 133 economies based on their performances in four different pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact, covering a total of 54 variables.
India has not only improved its ranking but also improved its score from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024. The country also leads in several indicators. The report states that India secured 1st rank in ‘AI scientific publications’, ‘AI talent concentration’ and ‘ICT services exports’, 2nd rank in ‘FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions’, ‘Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country’ and ‘International Internet bandwidth’, 3rd rank in ‘Domestic market scale’ and 4th rank in ‘annual investment in telecommunication services.
India has ranked 2nd in the group of lower-middle-income countries after Vietnam. As per the report, India has demonstrated significant digital progress, with notable strengths in technological innovation and digital transformation.
The country’s performance in NRI 2024 is the latest in a string of advancements in the telecommunications sector. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made significant strides in advancing India’s telecommunication infrastructure. Over the past decade, tele density increased from 75.2% to 84.69%, and wireless connections reached 119 crore. Digital India has also expanded broadband access to rural areas through partnerships with technology companies, resulting in a sharp rise in internet subscribers from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore, with a substantial rise in wireless internet usage. Reforms in spectrum management, ease of doing business, and consumer protection have further strengthened the sector.
Furthermore, India launched 5G services in 2022, rapidly improving its global mobile broadband speed ranking from 118 to 15. Now, India aims to position itself as a leader in future telecom technologies with the Bharat 6G Vision.
“Coupled with investment in emerging technologies, impressive data capabilities and robust telecom infrastructure, India’s performance in the network readiness index is a testament to our digital progress and innovation,” the Union Ministry of Communications stated today.
– global bihari bureau
