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 Hughes Network Systems (HNS) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. In India, the company is also a pioneer in e-governance initiatives. In an interview with Manoj Gairola, Hughes Networks Systems India Ltd president Pranav Roach talks about the status of e-governance in India and plans of HNS India. Excerpts:

• What is the status of e-governance in India?

In 2006, the Government approved the National e-Governance Plan which involved setting up 100,000 Common Service Centers to help bring the benefits of ICT to rural India. Several state governments have since awarded or initiated steps to award e-Governance projects to private players. Hughes is today working to implement CSC projects in seven states.

These centers will enable reliable connectivity but, more importantly, help deliver e-Governance services and other services, including vocational educational. In addition, Hughes is also independently deploying broadband centers all across the country to deliver e-Services to citizens in underserved regions.

It has been observed that a major reason for the lack of or slow pace of development in any region is not the lack of or absence of development programmes aimed at improving the economic condition of the people but the lack of awareness of the schemes and access to the benefits. We expect the e-Governance projects to bridge the digital divide and spread the benefits of ICT.

• What is the role of HNS India in this field?

Hughes is the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite services, products, and network solutions. Hughes provides broadband satellite networks and services for enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers in over 100 countries encompassing all broadband solutions and managed services, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies.

Given some key issues — like the size and topography of our country, lack of communication infrastructure in rural areas and problems (both from a technical perspective and cost) associated with building communication infrastructure in rural areas — the ubiquitous nature of satellites is very effective for a country like ours especially in rural areas.

• What should the government do to promote e-governance in India?

The National e-Governance Plan will help bring the benefits of ICT to rural citizens, enable access to digital services (both government and private services) and help address and hopefully eliminate the rural-urban digital divide. Hughes’ objective is to not only provide basic connectivity to rural areas but also deliver value added services like interactive vocational education, e-learning, tele-medicine and e-commerce and other value added services such as pre-paid mobile top-ups, rail ticketing, low-cost air ticketing, etc.

• What are your plans in India?

One key aspect will be the ease of deployment across the country and availability of relevant services and applications. What this means is that using technology, these broadband centers can be set up quickly, irrespective of location. All services are integrated with service providers for enabling transactions, billing and payment settlement in a transparent manner. As a result, students in far flung regions now have access to educational content to help them prepare for competitive exams for engineering, medicine and other streams, vocational programs to acquire skills for better employment opportunities in sectors like retail, travel, banking and financial services, insurance, telecom and networking,etc. Farmers have access to land records, commodity prices, latest crop and weather information and prices for their produce. These service are today available at over 1,500 locations and we expect to connect over 10,000 locations in the coming year.

• Hughes is also the largest player in VSAT in India. What is the status of the VSAT industry and what is its future?

In the world of modern communications, staying connected to family, friends, or work is no longer an option—it is a necessity. In today’s world, access to information is essential for success. Wherever people go, their need for instant access to voice communications, data and increasingly video must be addressed with 21st century technologies.

For more than 40 years, Hughes has been a pioneer in developing satellite technology and a global market leader in satellite networks and terminals. From high-speed transportable voice and data terminals to dual-mode mobile handsets, Hughes is meeting the communications needs of the global community. We expect that in India, Hughes will enable communications in underserved markets and help connect people to the mainstream economy for overall economic and social betterment.