First base is to create a digital infrastructure: Ravi Shankar Prasad

"Our Internet user base, including mobile, has reached 400 million, almost equalling the US base. After selling 44 million smartphones in 2013, we sold 80.5 million in 2014 and 100 million in 2015. What is the take of Indians on technology? Indians first observe a technology, adopt and then enjoy the technology, and lastly get empowered by the technology. Digital India is designed to create a knowledge economy in India. It is more for the poor and the underprivileged — designed to bridge the digital divide. Today, a puncture wala, a bakery wala, a mason, an electrician are all using their smartphones to better do their business. The first base is creating a digital infrastructure. We are linking about 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by an optical fibre network. We have nearly one lakh common service centres, which is giving service in the .. "