Digital India boosting connectivity, affordability and digital infrastructure
- IBEF
- March 12, 2026
India’s Digital India programme has significantly advanced digital inclusion by expanding connectivity, improving affordability, and strengthening digital public infrastructure across the country. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that the initiative has helped bridge the digital divide by increasing internet access, reducing data costs, and enabling widespread use of digital services. Internet connectivity in India has grown dramatically over the past decade, rising from 25 crore users in 2014 to around 103 crore users in 2025, reflecting the rapid expansion of digital access across urban and rural areas. This progress has been supported by large-scale deployment of 4G and 5G networks, extensive optical fibre infrastructure, and continued investment in digital connectivity.
The government’s strategy focuses on three key pillars: enhancing internet access, ensuring affordable data, and building robust digital public infrastructure. As a result, India today offers some of the lowest data tariffs globally, with the average cost of 1 GB of data ranging between Rs. 7.38 (US$ 0.08) and Rs. 9.23 (US$ 0.10), far below the global average of about Rs. 239.06 (US$ 2.59). This affordability has enabled millions of citizens to participate in digital services such as online payments, e-governance, education, and healthcare. Strengthening digital infrastructure has also positioned India as a global example of population-scale digital public platforms and inclusive technology adoption, reinforcing the country’s growing leadership in the global digital economy.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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