By Dr. Devesh Tyagi, CEO, NIXI<\/p>\n
Some milestones are worth celebrating. India today has more than 955 million internet users \u2013 a number that would have been hard to imagine just a decade ago. But with this rapid growth comes a simple, urgent question: Can our digital backbone carry the weight of the next billion?<\/p>\n
We are not just talking now about internet connectivity for people. That battle, in many ways has already been fought. Toward building an internet that is trustworthy and resilient stands the next challenge to build an internet that is trustworthy, resilient, local, and optimised. A network that works just as well for a weaver in Bhagalpur as it does for a coder in Bengaluru.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with something that still doesn\u2019t get the attention it deserves yet every one of us depends on it: the Internet Exchange Point (IXP). IXPs are what keep data flowing smoothly between networks. They ensure that messages don\u2019t bounce around foreign servers before reaching someone in your own city. With 77 IXPs across India today, we\u2019ve built a strong base but scale alone isn\u2019t enough. We need smarter distribution, especially in remote areas.<\/p>\n
Many Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities still route their internet traffic through distant metros, adding delay, cost, and inefficiency. This can be changed and the solution lies in partnership. India\u2019s smaller ISPs already have deep community ties and infrastructure. What they often lack is interconnection capability. A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that brings these ISPs into a shared framework can shift the needle significantly.<\/p>\n
When we treat Class A, B, and C ISPs as equal collaborators not competitors, we create a web of shared strength. This is what we call ecosystem thinking, not just infrastructure building. After all, access is only the first piece of the puzzle.<\/p>\n
For millions of Indians, the digital world still feels like a foreign land \u2014 not because of poor connectivity, but because it doesn\u2019t speak their language. With Universal Acceptance, a Tamil-speaking farmer in Erode, a Bodo speaker in Assam, or a tribal youth in Jharkhand should no longer find the internet linguistically out of reach. Domain names in Indian languages, email addresses in local scripts, and content in the language people dream in shouldn\u2019t feel like a luxury anymore \u2014 they should be the gateway to real digital participation.<\/p>\n
Through village-level domain identity projects, people are finally getting a chance to see their world reflected online. And when someone can tell their story in their own language, it\u2019s no longer just access \u2014 it becomes real expression. That\u2019s when the internet truly comes alive.<\/p>\n
Of course, a wider internet is also a riskier one. As access spreads, so do threats. Cybersecurity isn\u2019t a separate agenda anymore \u2013 it\u2019s a foundational part of access. We\u2019ve seen how scams and frauds can erode trust. That\u2019s why regulators are launching secure zones like .bank.in and .fin.in. When a citizen sees those domains, they should immediately feel the legitimacy of those websites. Trust shouldn\u2019t be optional in a digital economy.<\/p>\n
Another long-term step is the creation of an Indian Root Certification Authority. Most HTTPS certificates are issued abroad, meaning our browsing data trails often pass through foreign hands. With a domestic root, we not only secure our data traffic but also affirm our digital sovereignty. It\u2019s a quiet revolution, but one that matters.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s not forget the most important element of all \u2013 people. For a truly inclusive and secure digital future, we need not just users but creators, engineers, and thinkers who understand how the internet works at its core. The next generation must be equipped not only to use digital tools, but to shape, secure, and steer the internet itself.<\/p>\n
Bright students from across India are being trained in the ethics, mechanics, and policy of how the internet works. They\u2019re not just interns, they are the future architects of India\u2019s digital journey, shaped through the Internet Governance program.<\/p>\n
In the end, to support another billion users, we must rethink what the internet means to us. Not just as consumers, but as citizens. We must build an internet that is:<\/p>\n
Federated \u2013 with shared ownership and local strength.
\nLinguistically inclusive \u2013 speaking every Indian\u2019s language.
\nSecure by design \u2013 where trust is built into the architecture.
\nGoverned with awareness \u2013 not just by rules, but by people who understand their impact.<\/p>\n
The internet is no longer just a network of cables and routers. It has become the new public square where we connect, the new library where we learn, the new bank and post office where we transact, and the new school where we educate ourselves. It\u2019s now the backbone of how society functions, communicates, and grows, and it must reflect who we are and where we\u2019re headed. The next billion users deserve nothing less.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s build an internet that speaks our languages, respects our identities, and secures our future for the next billion and beyond.<\/p>\n
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