According to a report released in March last, the number of internet users in India  will reach 627 million by end of 2019, registering an 11 percent growth over 566 million users in 2018. Also it is now estimated that there are 251 million internet users in rural India currently and the figure is expected to touch  290 million by this year end. If the above figure speaks of a digital revolution sweeping the country, in Arunachal the story is somehow different as both connectivity and speed are the issues that are yet to be addressed with a comprehensive solution-oriented  professional outlook. This is evident from the occasional  outbursts from  various  quarters of the state’s populace and the most recent one  has been triggered  due to  the  below average quality of internet services in the state’s twin capitals, where it is expected to be the finest, by virtue of their  administrative and financial importance.

Internet penetration and voice connectivity particularly via cellular handsets are one of the biggest happenings that had occurred in India during the last decade and it  is encouraging to note that  even the smallest towns and remotest of rural pockets have been included, thanks to  increased accessibility at data rates calculated to be cheapest in world. Also, if internet is viewed as  one of the best  windows  to access the  world of  information and knowledge, thereby  making it an  evolving tool of  empowerment, the fact that there is a significant  narrowing of gender gap in its access with women  spending as much time on the internet as men in the country, must also be considered as  nothing short of  women empowerment.

One  doesn’t need to be an IT specialist to  conclude that a significant part of our daily activities are somehow related or dependent on internet  and the list is growing day by day. It’s the demand of the digital age we are living to guarantee ceaseless internet connectivity and turning a deaf ear to it will only lead to be  labelled as ‘backward’. And in state, the primary reason that is often singled out for internet failure is the damaging of  Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network due to construction of pathways of various  dimensions. It’s a strange dilemma the state is facing when none of the two development activities can be sacrificed for the sake of the other, since both roads as well as internet are the recognised benchmarks of measuring infrastructural progress.

Besides taking a coordinated approach involving the stakeholders particularly to this aspect of the problem, a fresh relook  of the whole  scenario is also necessary acknowledging  all the practicalities. It’s a ‘trouble shooting’ exercise the state will be  awaiting with patience.

According to a report released in March last, the number of internet users in India  will reach 627 million by end of 2019, registering an 11 percent growth over 566 million users in 2018. Also it is now estimated that there are 251 million internet users in rural India currently and the figure is expected to touch  290 million by this year end. If the above figure speaks of a digital revolution sweeping the country, in Arunachal the story is somehow different as both connectivity and speed are the issues that are yet to be addressed with a comprehensive solution-oriented  professional outlook. This is evident from the occasional  outbursts from  various  quarters of the state’s populace and the most recent one  has been triggered  due to  the  below average quality of internet services in the state’s twin capitals, where it is expected to be the finest, by virtue of their  administrative and financial importance.

Internet penetration and voice connectivity particularly via cellular handsets are one of the biggest happenings that had occurred in India during the last decade and it  is encouraging to note that  even the smallest towns and remotest of rural pockets have been included, thanks to  increased accessibility at data rates calculated to be cheapest in world. Also, if internet is viewed as  one of the best  windows  to access the  world of  information and knowledge, thereby  making it an  evolving tool of  empowerment, the fact that there is a significant  narrowing of gender gap in its access with women  spending as much time on the internet as men in the country, must also be considered as  nothing short of  women empowerment.

One  doesn’t need to be an IT specialist to  conclude that a significant part of our daily activities are somehow related or dependent on internet  and the list is growing day by day. It’s the demand of the digital age we are living to guarantee ceaseless internet connectivity and turning a deaf ear to it will only lead to be  labelled as ‘backward’. And in state, the primary reason that is often singled out for internet failure is the damaging of  Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network due to construction of pathways of various  dimensions. It’s a strange dilemma the state is facing when none of the two development activities can be sacrificed for the sake of the other, since both roads as well as internet are the recognised benchmarks of measuring infrastructural progress.

Besides taking a coordinated approach involving the stakeholders particularly to this aspect of the problem, a fresh relook  of the whole  scenario is also necessary acknowledging  all the practicalities. It’s a ‘trouble shooting’ exercise the state will be  awaiting with patience.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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