NGN should address rural problems: Raja

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Next Generation Technologies (NGN) should address problems of rural India such as poverty, and unemployment, said union minister for IT and Communications, A Raja.

Releasing a compendium of NGN here, he emphasized the need to develop telecom infrastructure at a fast pace as it goes hand in hand with the economic development. “Poverty and unemployment in the rural sector are major challenges that our country is facing today. Companies while ensuring profits for themselves should also focus on how they can use new technologies to address these problems,” the minister said.

“India, which is well known for its IT talent base, could use ICT technologies to advantage,’’ added Raja. He suggested the Department of Telecom to form a focus group and deliberate on innovative methods to make an action plan to bring broadband connectivity to rural areas at a much faster rate than presently envisaged.

“New innovative technologies in NGN could be used to support ICT to accelerate the present rate of rural coverage. India could look at a model where engineers could become entrepreneurs and multiply the wealth of the country. We have therefore to ensure that the benefits of new technologies like NGN are delivered to rural masses and that they bring value-addition in their lives through increased agricultural production and make life easier for the rural masses,” he added.