Broadband to masses, a vision in Digital India 2.0

New Delhi: IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday vowed to take broadband to the doorsteps of the common man via a policy push and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and said the government will also work proactively to make India an export hub for electronics products.

Outlining an ambitious vision for Digital India 2.0, the minister exhorted Indian IT companies and its apex software body Nasscom to participate in creation of 'Digital Villages' in the country, and supplement the government's efforts in the digital literacy movement.

"One of the priority areas and I am working on it...Broadband available at your doorsteps...in this we want to involve entrepreneurs.

Just like a mobile SIM card is available in 'paan' shops, can we do something similar for broadband...," Prasad told reporters here.

He said availability of broadband and mobiles is an essential component of Digital India, which is feeding the digital appetite of the country.

"Cable operators brought television to the doors of the people, the PCO and Common Service Centre became big movements.

So did Business Process Outsourcing...Can we come up with an architecture back­ed by entrepreneurship and a good policy where broa­d­band is available for all," he said.