Telecommuincations infrastructure and economic growth: an overview

India is the world's second-largest telecommunications market, with1022.61 million subscribers as on September, 2015. With 70 per cent of the population staying in rural areas, the rural market would be a key growth driver in the coming years. Telecom penetration in the nation's rural market is expected to increase to 70 per cent by 2017 from 48.66 per cent as of September 2015. It is expected that India will be the second largest country in terms of internet subscribers by December 2016. Mobile based Internet is a key component of Indian Internet usage, with seven out of eight users accessing internet from their mobile phones. The government of India has introduced Digital India program under which all the sectors such as healthcare, retail, etc. will be connected through internet. The country has a strong telecommunication infrastructure. In terms of telecommunication ratings, India ranks ahead of its peers in the West and Asia. The government has been proactive in its efforts to transform India into a global telecommunication hub; prudent regulatory support has also helped.