Intel launches ‘Connected Indians’

BANGALORE, INDIA: Intel India announced the launch of 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 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.

R Sivakumar, managing director, Intel South Asia, 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. Through the ‘Connected Indians’ movement we hope to achieve precisely that. This movement is privileged to be supported by the government, ecosystem partners as well as numerous other industry stalwarts. This coupled with the slew of affordable computing devices now available will go a long way in driving connectivity. We expect to see the momentum for this initiative building up rapidly.”

Thiru A Raja, Hon’ble Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, said, “Earlier this year in May I outlined my digital vision for India at the World Congress of IT (WCIT) in Kuala Lumpur: 500 million Indians connected to the Internet and its unlimited opportunities, with more than l00 million broadband connections, and 100 million broadband enabled devices to drive this ‘Connected Indian’ milieu leading to the development and growth of a vibrant economy – all by 2012. Since then we have made much progress and my ministry is well on its way to executing this task."

"The Internet will be the force that propels India into the next decade. The ‘Connected Indians’ movement will spur effective broadband deployment which in turn will directly contribute to the country’s competitiveness. This rapid technological change will ensure India’s future success. I therefore congratulate Intel for having facilitated the unique ‘Connected Indians’ movement with significant contribution from key industry partners and support from the government.”

Affordable low-cost device to drive Internet access

The Intel Atom processor was launched earlier this year to enable an emerging class of affordable Internet-centric devices called Netbooks and Nettops. Intel today further announced a range of affordable devices which are expected to be available in the market over the next several months starting from a ground breaking price point of Rs. 5000/-. These devices will leverage existing displays and enable new users to experience the internet and its endless opportunities.

Netbooks are compact mobile devices that children, first-time Internet users and people who desire an extra PC can use for basic computing applications, listening to music, e-mailing and surfing the Internet. They can also be used for playing basic online games, social networking and making voice over IP phone calls. Intel showcased various designs of Nettops and Netbooks today from multiple OEMs including Acer, Asus, HCL, Lenovo, Intex, Novatium, Wipro, Zenith as well as local system integrators. 

BSNL, India’s largest telecom company, has committed its efforts to accelerate broadband internet in India to help bridge the digital divide. To this end, Intel and BSNL have announced a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will jointly propagate broadband internet across the country along with wireless solutions such as WiMAX to enable inclusive economic growth in India. At appropriate times Cisco and BSNL will jointly promote the business and technology advantages of WiMAX to corporations and enterprises.

Intel and BSNL will work together to evolve a set of basic standards for building WiMax rollout and applications in India and develop a pilot WiMax solution specifically for rural markets. Intel will provide help set up a proof of concept lab for Wimax and other wireless broadband technologies and include BSNL in any certification/verification programs. Intel and BSNL will also jointly undertake co-marketing programs to promote BSNL’s connectivity and content services.

Industry Effort to drive broadband and Internet connectivity

As India makes significant economic strides, the Internet is fast emerging as a defining step in education, communication, business and entertainment. However while Indians comprise almost a fifth of the world’s population only a miniscule section are connected to the Internet.  The ‘Connected Indians’ movement is an ambitious multi-year effort to change that. Intel is working with a number of industry partners to make this dream a reality. A website www.connectedindians.com has also been launched where people can log on and support the movement.

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 and the Power of the Internet. The first 10,000 citizens can avail of this eLearning module for free. NIIT’s faculty is committed to this initiative to impart Internet education and facilitate an introductory Internet experience.

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. This joint initiative will cover approximately 100 cities and towns across the length and breadth of the nation over the next few months. This program will cover the entire spectrum of connectivity solutions and range of devices based on Intel processors including the new Intel Atom Processor based Netbooks and Nettops.

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

Going forward the ‘Connected Indians’ movement will continue to build momentum with more and more partners joining the cause to accelerate broadband adoption, a series of public outreach activities and more affordable devices for the consumer.

Intel – BSNL MoU