Context: 

India improved both its ranking and score, from 60th with 49.93 in NRI 2023 to 49th with 53.63 in Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024.

Key Findings of the Index

• The United States, Singapore and Finland retain the top three spots in the Index.
• It highlights the U.S.'s dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) development, digital business transformation, and technology adoption.
• South Korea ranks 5th in the index as the only Asian country in the top 10.

India’s Position in the Index

• India has improved its position by 11 slots and is now placed at 49^th rank.
• India has demonstrated significant digital progress, showcasing strengths in technological innovation and digital transformation.
• India secured 2^nd place in the group of lower-middle-income countries, just behind Vietnam. 

Top Rankings: India topped several key indicators:

• 1^st rank in “AI scientific publications,” “AI talent concentration,” and “ICT services exports.” 
• 2^nd rank in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions,” “mobile broadband internet traffic within the country,” and “international Internet bandwidth.” 
• 3^rd rank in “domestic market scale”
• 4^th rank in “annual investment in telecommunication services.

Factors Contributing to India's Improvement

• As per the report India’s tele density increased from 75.2% to 84.69%, and wireless connections reached 119 crores. 
• Digital India's initiatives have brought broadband access to rural areas, increasing internet subscribers from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore.
• The launch of 5G services in 2022 has significantly boosted India’s global mobile broadband speed ranking, soaring from 118th to 15th place.
• Key reforms in spectrum management, ease of doing business, and consumer protection have bolstered the telecommunications sector. India’s robust telecom infrastructure, strong data capabilities, and increasing investment in emerging technologies like 6G position it as a global leader in the digital space.