2G or Not 2G? Implications for the Digital Divide

An Indian government-funded project to provide 2G mobile coverage to unserved areas in India’s North-East Region received no bids from telecom operators.

An estimated INR53.36 billion (USD798 million) was made available from the Universal Service Obligation Fund to help support the roll-out, which would have helped connect some of the more than 9,000 villages currently not connected to a mobile network. India has made rapid strides in the rollout of 3G, as well as 4G, particularly in urban areas where many operators are choosing to invest more heavily due to higher average revenue per user and lower infrastructure costs. Yet in India – as in many other emerging markets – 2G remains important for connecting citizens and improving lives, especially in unconnected rural areas.


2G or Not 2G? Implications for the Digital Divide