India to have center for excellence in domain systems

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has in partnership with the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) announced its plans to work towards the creation of a 'Center of Excellence in Domain Name System Security' in India.

The unique effort was announced at the first Internet, Mobile and Digital Economy Conference organised by FICCI and the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology in New Delhi on Thursday.

Speaking on the future of mobile internet, Arvind Bali, CEO of Video Telecommunications, said the limited spectrum availability was the biggest hindrance for India's wireless growth. "The first challenge is shortage of spectrum and the cost at which spectrum is available. This is followed by the present scenario where operators are not allowed to consolidate," he said.

Industry veteran Sanjeev Aga said that mobility and internet came into being independently and has been working on parallel lines for a decade.

"We should understand that we need to ride the tide instead of fighting against the tide," he said. "Telecom is not a 20-year stand. When you quote a telecom investment, you quote it for the life of the business. At the moment our policy is as if business runs in phases of 10 years. Some day this will bite everyone," added Aga, who stepped down as Managing Director of Idea Cellular in 2011.

P Balaji, managing director of Nokia India, said by 2020, broadband penetration will reach 600 million customers in India.