2. Evolution of innovative content and programming in all regional languages for all online communities.

3. Offers new business framework for digital content and services amongst producers, distributors and users.

4. Provision of  a high quality e-Gov services delivery for public services in PPP mode.

5. Development of a new set of competency, skills and talent at all levels for online, always connected world.

6. Aim at universal broadband wireless access for all with affordable access for atleast 100 million users by 2015.

7. Attain digital inclusion of the hinterland India through improved media and Internet access and awareness.

8. Lay the foundation for digital radio and digital TV services delivery by 2014.

9. Creation of online commerce, banking, insurance centric national digital Information infrastructure.

Global outlook for broadband
Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, Germany, Finland, France, Estonia, Spain, and Japan have launched national broadband evolution plans even though they all had mobile  networks on 2G and 3G.

The US administration announced a stimulus programme for high speed broadband and smart grid technology, exploiting 4G wireless like WiMAX broadband Internet access is declared as a civil right in these societies.

User demand for mobile Internet is booming. That requires Indian telcos to prepare for the launch of 4G WiMAX networks to deliver mobile internet, mobile video, mobile commerce and support mobile computing. Smartphones now ship with social networking applications pre-loaded, due to sheer popularity.

YouTube says that mobile video is as an exponentially growing part of its site usage and  reported in 2009 that uploads from mobiles to YouTube increased by about 1700 percent due to the penetration of video enabled devices.

Panasonic, Samsung and Sony already offer models of Internet ready TVs and expects about 30 percent of TVs to be launched during 2011-13 to have built-in Internet connectivity. This offers opportunity for broadband industry growth.

Government should believe in efficient means of ensuring the vast majority of India to have access to NextGen broadband on our wireless infrastructure. The mandate to have universal 2Mbps broadband as a minimum service standard should be the goal for Government on BWA services by 2013.

Only then will India would move towards a digital networked economy in the 21st century. Digital broadband is an essential facility for citizens in a modern society. 

Benefits of broadband and BWA auction to different sections of the society.

1.Younger generation are viewing broadband as the norm for school and project work, shopping, listening to music, view of television, e-commerce and for social networking through wireless.

2. Education in universities is set to be transformed through remote virtual learning, webinars, online portals etc. 

3. Old family members are adapting to the younger generation Internet culture and thus their productivity also increases

4. Healthcare delivery is set to change with better info on diet practices, fitness, and remote online diagnostic services.

5. Online banking, shopping, video based job interviews would save corporates a lot in time, effort, money.

6. User generated content, new content creation systems have enabled millions of people to generate and distribute their online documents, audio, video etc., to the world audience.

7. Citizen - Govt interactions become more transparent, responsive and a truly inclusive e-Governance evolves. 

Appeal to Government and Industry
Delay in broadband penetration in India through unproven technologies, will do nothing but leave everything to lobbies of different departments of the government, industry groups and thus leave India behind.

We in India require regulatory certainity, smarter, independent view of the timely spectrum utilisation policy, keeping in mind of the societal need. Today we require an essential step of intervention from the highest executive authority of the country to show transparency in decision making for national BB interests.

Immediate BWA spectrum utilization for BB growth  would enable all the sections of the society to exploit the universal broadband Internet access and participate in the true digital society leading to digital delivery of public services.

We at India are at an inflection point in wireless broadband adoption, in scalability of usage and in demand for services. India needs Internet focus on connected world and an online world.

Indian telco leaders need to raise to the occasion and put pressure on the government not to let auctioned BWA spectrum to be hoarded and traded . They need  to embrace 4G technology of WiMAX and offer wireless broadband and mobile Internet services at once  in 2010.

Only then broadband India would become  a reality. Let BWA auctions serve Indian needs  immediately in 2010 to 2012 time frame by utilizing  this BWA spectrum in 2.3 Ghz Bands.
Govt should take decisions now for BWA auctioned spectrum  to be put to immediate use for roll out in 1000 cities /towns and 10 percent of SDCA in rural India by 2012 and thus set India to be  at the forefront of a digital society.

The author is Chairman, WiMAX Forum, India.