Telecom regulator TRAI on Thursday invited public feedback to discover methods and means to make smartphone inexpensive within the nation for digital inclusion.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) as a part of its session paper on “Digital Inclusion within the Period of Rising Applied sciences” will assess if measures taken by the federal government corresponding to focussing on native manufacturing are ample to carry down the costs of smartphones in India.
“What measures must be taken to make digital units and digital connectivity inexpensive to the residents for empowering them to maximise the advantages of an inclusive digital society?” TRAI requested within the session paper.
Within the paper, TRAI has cited instance of smartphone financing and exploring viability of second hand smartphones within the nation.
The regulator sees that the speedy tempo of technological developments and launch of 5G enabled providers together with synthetic intelligence and machine studying can widen digital divide if not made inexpensive and accessible to marginalized communities and underserved areas.
“Unequal entry of infrastructure, restricted digital literacy, and affordability points may hinder the equitable distribution and utilization of rising applied sciences, exacerbating current disparities in digital inclusion. To make sure complete digital inclusion, it’s crucial to deal with the gaps that are more likely to come up as a consequence of rising applied sciences,” TRAI stated.
The regulator has mounted October 16 as final date for giving feedback and October 31 for counter feedback on the paper.
