Internet in rural areas

 Note: - This post is written for 'Transform Maharashtra' competition for team E-Rise. 

Introduction: -

     The Internet has become an integral part of our life. Almost all our day to day activities are performed using the Internet. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram have now become a global platform to express our views, thoughts, joy etc. Messengers like WhatsApp and hike are popular in every house of Indian cities. India has 462 Million Internet users in India out of which 442.7 Million are Mobile Internet users. India is ranked 2nd in Asia-Pacific region, China topping the list. India's Internet usage growth rate is 4 times the world growth rate.
Now, if we consider Maharashtra, by June 2016, there are almost 29 Million Internet subscribers in Maharashtra, most in the country. Out of 29 Million, 9.85 Million are Internet users in rural areas. The population of Maharashtra in the year 2016 was 121.3 Million out of which around 54% people i.e. 65.34 million are living in rural areas. It means out of total population of Maharashtra, only 34%, 15% people from urban and rural area respectively, have Internet connectivity.
Despite being a large population in rural areas, Internet subscribers are very less as compare to the urban area of Maharashtra. This is an evidence that any new change happens in the world, the urban area always witnesses the first. It takes a time to reach that revolution to the most deprived part i.e. rural area. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has vast benefits. ICT has reached to every corner of the urban area so easily that even the most underprivileged people are taking benefits of this revolution. From poor to rich, women to men, youngsters to elders, all are the beneficiaries of the ICT. This is not the case with the rural areas. Even though ICT finds vast benefits and application in a rural area, there is very little development in the field of Internet. Most of the villages do not have cellular connectivity. While, those having Internet connectivity, are not getting better connectivity. In the era of 4G, almost all our villages are still using 2G. To bridge this gap of a digital divide, a necessary infrastructure has to established in the villages so that rural area will also get benefits of ICT and a new platform of opportunities will become open to them.

Internet usage in Maharashtra:-

internet usage in Maharashtra

     Out of 29 Million subscribers, 70% people are concerned with social media. Just 19% people use the Internet to research products, e-commerce, net-banking, and mailing etc. BSNL provides monthly plans which start from ₹500?. There are other ISPs which also provide services for broadband Internet. There plans too, start from 500₹. Mobile Internet packs for 2G was a cost for 150₹/GB. But due to the entry of JIO in the industry, the rate has fallen to around 98₹/GB for both 2G and 3G. But in rural areas, there is neither BSNL broadband lines nor any 3G services.

Reasons of lack of connectivity in rural areas:

• Less population density in rural areas:

  

  population density of rural and urban Maharashtra

  In rural areas of Maharashtra population density is just 206 persons/sq km, while in the urban area it is about 5594 persons/sq km. Larger the area more is the cost of deployment of infrastructure.
•  Literacy rate: 

  

  literacy rate of Maharashtra

  In the rural area only 67.8% population is literate. The percentage of higher education is less than the literate percentage. In an urban area, the literacy rate is about 84.1%. Also, the percentage of higher education is also high. It is evident that higher the education, more exposure, and awareness about technologies.
•  Other reasons can be:

1. Less demand for newer technology in telecommunication.
2. Lack of customer base.
3. Lack of knowledge about benefits of technology etc.

New Technology for connectivity in rural areas:

• Satellite connectivity: -

       This connectivity is brought using Internet satellites. This kind of connectivity is used in Mountain areas or where there is no basic infrastructure for connectivity. Some points about satellite connectivity are:

1. Price: Rs 5082 per month per user
2.  Reach: 729856 sq.km.
3.  Longevity: 5 Yrs
4.  Infrastructure: Requires special type of antenna, plus deployment of geostationary satellites.
5.  Cost: Very High manufacturing and deployment costs.

• Internet balloons:

     Balloons are floating in the air. These balloons create WiFi area in an area around 40 sq km. For data transfer, the spectrums of telecom operators are used. Google has tested this project in New Zealand rural areas and was quite successful.
     Some points about Internet Balloons are:

1. Price: ₹ 330 per month per user
2.  Reachability: 5000 people over the area of 5084 sq.km.
3.  Connectivity: 1-2 hrs per day depending on equipment positioning and wind speeds
4.  Longevity: 0.33 years
5.  Still in research stage, no fixed costs of manufacture and deployment available
6.  Infrastructure: Needs the special type of antennas.
7.  Maintenance of balloons is difficult.

• Optical Fiber Network:

     These are having high data rates popular in foreign countries. These are quite popular in urban areas but; in countries like the UK, there are optical fiber networks in rural areas too.
     Some facts about Optical Fiber networks are:

1.  High-speed data transfer.
2.  Under utilization of bandwidth.
3.  Minimum 950₹/month.
4.  Expensive to manufacture and install.
5.  Skilled labor required for installation and maintenance.
6.  Specialized equipment necessary for installation and use.
7.  The network is rigid and difficult to upgrade.

• Conclusion:

     Newer technologies in development are not so reliable. They can carry their own hazards such as accidental crashing of balloons. (Washington 2014)
These technologies have very high costs for manufacture and deployment.
So, having there is need of infrastructure which is economically viable has long life span.

Our proposed models:

connectivity model for Maharashtra

     Our proposed model has two part. one is the Public private partnership in cellular connectivity in rural areas and the second part is making digital literacy a mass movement.
The first part of the model will ensure better service and quality in telecommunication of rural areas. The second part will ensure that there is enough demand for better telecommunication quality and service.
Note that both models are interdependent. One model will create the platform for better performance of another one.

Proposed model A: PPP in cellular connectivity

     In India, almost 94% Internet users are mobile phone users. Also, in a rural area too, wired connections are very rare. So new infrastructure to be deployed should be compatible with this large customer base. Also, demand for mobile subscription is higher in rural areas. Balloon and satellite require specialized equipment so they are costlier and not useful for existing customers.

Advantages of cellular connectivity:

1. Lower cost as compared to incubation technologies.
2. Ease of monitoring and control over infrastructure.
3. The life of a cellular network tower is typically above 25 years.
4. Upgrading to newer technologies is relatively easy.
5. Challenges for cellular technology.
6. Covering less population dense area will increase the cost of deployment.
7. The increase in customer should be happened to generate the revenue.

• The need of PPP model:

     Public private partnership in telecommunication will be a key factor in developing infrastructure in the rural areas. As a telecommunication infrastructure development needs a huge amount of investments; it is not feasible for public sector alone to invest in the rural infrastructure. On the other hand, private sector companies focus on development in urban areas where demand for service and hence revenue prospects are higher. Thus the collaboration of public and private sectors is necessary for the speedy development of rural areas.

• Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO):

  

  Design-Build-Finance-Operate PPP model

1. The private sector will design, own and operate the infrastructure and operates subject to strict controls.
2. At the end of leased period, the private sector will either hand over the infrastructure component to the public sector or they purchase the component from the public sector.
3. This will ensure that investments are made through private sectors with less overhead on the public sector.
4. Also, regulation and maintenance of the infrastructure will be performed by the public sectors ensuring the welfare of the rural citizens.
5. The current wireless connectivity infrastructure will be upgraded to suit newer technology or newer bases will be set up in a case of absence.
6. With the increase in 'Digital Literacy', there will be substantial growth in demand for connectivity to outside world.

• Open Access Model:

  

  open access model for rural connectivity

1. Installation and configuration by established telecom companies.
2. Maintenance by the public sector.
3. The same network will be shared by telecom operators to provide the service.
4. This will ensure that focus will be on the customers but not to the providers. At the same network will be shared by the telecom operators, there will be competition for better service ensuring low cost of Internet for rural citizens.

• The role of government:

1. Promotion and subsidizing the concept
2. Regulations to ensure feasibility.
3. Shoulder responsibility in unforeseeable risks viz. Natural Disasters
4. Track social and environmental commitments.
5. Provide incentives to private sector members for a smooth and efficient flow of the project.

Proposed model B: Digital literacy-a mass movement:

digital literacy: a mass movement

     Digital literacy can be defined as the knowledge to handle digital devices such as computers, tablet PCs and smartphones, and Internet usage.
     The government has already approved a scheme to promote digital literacy known as 'National Digital Literacy Mission' also known as 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan'. The scheme has been formulated to impart IT training to 52.5 lakh persons, including Anganwadi and ASHA workers and authorized ration dealers in all the States/UTs across the country so that the non-IT literate citizens are trained to become IT literate so as to enable them to actively and effectively participate in the democratic and developmental process and also enhance their livelihood. Altogether 52.5 lakh persons, including Anganwadi and ASHA workers and authorized ration dealers will be trained under the program in two phases. In the first phase, 10 lakh beneficiaries will be trained under the scheme. Nine lakh beneficiaries will be eligible for training fee support from the government. The rest 100,000 beneficiaries will be trained by the industry and civil society partners.
     These efforts are taken place at the central level. This will take a lot of time to spread throughout the India. So, to accelerate digital literacy in rural areas, these things can be done:

• People's contribution to digital literacy: -

'Any social change becomes successful only when, people participates in it.'

     People can contribute to this movement by the various way: -

1. It is evident that students, youngsters learn the technology. Schools, Colleges or group of friends can form a focused group which will work as 'E-Mitra'. These 'E-Mitras' will perform small demos at villages, rural government offices, banks, ST stands etc. They will also arrange weekly workshops in the villages or in the 'Aathavade Bazaar' where maximum people can be met.
2. People who live in the urban areas can donate computers, mobile phones to nearby village schools where they can be used as the learning model.
3. There are various NGOs works in Maharashtra. These NGOs can also help in Digital Literacy moment. There are various college level organizations, groups like NSS which work in the villages. They can arrange camps about digital literacy and can teach people about the Internet, mobile banking, digital payment etc.

• Government's role: -

'To facilitate the MASS MOVEMENT, the government has to perform the role of a GUIDE...!'

     The role of government can be explained as follows:

1. Care should be taken by the government that adequate resources should be available at village level so that there will not be any hindrance in the process of learning. These resources can be Computers, Mobile Phones, Internet connectivity etc.
2. The government should release a common, standard handbook for learning the literacy. This will be helpful to people who are willing to contribute to the digital literacy. This handbook will be a common course across the Maharashtra which can be taught by E-Mitras, NGOs, independent college level organizations like NSS to rural citizens.
3. The government can either participate in union government's NDLM mission or can start its own courses. These certified courses will help to generate digital literate citizens which will in return, start their own training centers in villages. This courses will be helpful for 'MAHILA BACHAT GAT' to start new small scale business to earn the money. The government should facilitate investment in such training centers.
4. The government can form a joint venture with mobile manufacturing companies to manufacture low priced, high quality 4G LTE compatible smartphones. These smartphones will trigger the digital literacy movement aggressively.
5. The government can provide 'Mobile Digital Literacy Classrooms' which will display various video tutorials about Internet Banking, Digital Payments, Government Platforms etc.

• Private sector's role:

1. CSR fund can be used to develop rural area connectivity. As new 'Companies Act, 2013' has stated that CSR fund can be used for rural development, this fund can be used for following things:
2. Donating computers, smart-phones to schools where they can be used as a teaching material.
3. Developing free WiFi spots at various places like schools, colleges, bus stops etc.
4. Arranging various campaigns in rural areas related to 'Digital Literacy' program.
5. Appointing 'E-Mitra' at various institutions like banks, government offices which will guide the people about various online activities.
6. Establishing 'computer and mobile training' centers in rural areas.
7. Members of organizations like 'Mahila Bachat Gat' should be trained and equipped to conduct digital application usage training in their locality.

Final words:

     By comparing all the possible technologies for connectivity, only cellular infrastructure is viable and can be serviced more efficiently over the long period but; to deploy the infrastructure over the large area, is not possible for public sector alone. Hence, both public and private should come together to build infrastructure. Also, without digital literacy in rural areas, even though the network is built, customers will not use the service. Therefore, digital literacy has to be brought in this model. Both these things are interdependent. So, this model to become successful, both these things should work simultaneously. This brings important role for the public in this development. If this model becomes successful, then it will be the first model where all three sectors of society viz. government, corporate sector and public worked together.