India has made remarkable progress in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024, climbing 11 places to rank 49th among 133 economies. The NRI evaluates countries based on their performance in technology, people, governance, and impact. India's score has improved from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024, reflecting enhanced digital infrastructure and services. The country ranks highly in AI-related indicators, mobile broadband internet, and international internet bandwidth. Among lower-middle-income countries, India ranks second, following Vietnam. The Digital India initiative has significantly increased broadband access in rural areas, with the number of internet subscribers surging from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore. Reforms in the telecom sector, including spectrum management and business regulations, have created a more conducive environment for growth and innovation. India has also made rapid advancements in 5G services, improving its global mobile broadband speed ranking from 118th to 15th. Looking ahead, the Bharat 6G Vision aims to position India as a leader in future telecom technologies, with a focus on investments in emerging technologies and data capabilities.
