In a recently released report, the Network Readiness Index 2022 (NRI 2022), India has demonstrated noteworthy progress by securing the 61st position. This signifies an advancement by six places on the global index.
Understanding the Network Readiness Index 2022
The NRI report is tasked with outlining the network readiness of 131 economies globally. This assessment is anchored in four primary areas: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact. The esteemed Portulans Institute, a non-partisan, independent non-profit research and educational institute headquartered in Washington DC, is responsible for its preparation.
For its 2022 edition, the index included a diverse range of economies including 49 high-income economies, 32 upper-middle-income economies, 36 lower-middle-income economies, and 14 low-income economies.
Global Rankings Overview
The position at the top has been claimed by the US, thereby shifting the Netherlands to the fourth place. Demonstrating impressive mobility, Singapore moved up two places to achieve the second position, edging out Denmark and Finland from the top 5. As per the new arrangement, the Top 10 network-ready countries are: the US, Singapore, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Germany, South Korea, and Norway.
The NRI’s appraisal of these top performers underlines that advanced economies in Europe, certain regions of Asia and the Pacific, and North America are among the world’s most network-ready societies.
The Indian Scenario: Positive Gains in Network Readiness
India’s progress has been twofold, characterized by enhanced ranking and an improved score of 51.19 in 2022 as compared to 49.74 in 2021. The country’s performance was noteworthy in several indicators including securing 1st rank in “AI talent concentration”, 2nd in “Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country” and “International Internet bandwidth”, and 3rd in “Annual investment in telecommunication services” as well as “Domestic market size”.
Furthermore, India accomplished 4th rank in “ICT Services exports” and 5th in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions” and “AI scientific publications”. According to the report, India has successfully surpassed network readiness expectations corresponding to its income level. The country is currently situated at the 3rd rank out of 36 lower-middle-income countries, following Ukraine and Indonesia.
India’s Efforts Towards Enhancing Network Readiness
India’s increased ranking and overall performance improvement can be attributed to several key initiatives. These include the National Broadband Mission, the National Digital Communications Policy of 2018, the BharatNet project, and the government’s Digital India program. Moreover, the establishment of the National AI Portal is a crucial testament to India’s commitment to enhancing its tech-readiness.