India can shape the future of Internet, says ICANN chief

With next billion people on the Internet likely to come from India, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) CEO Fadi Chehadé on Monday said the country had the power to shape the future of Internet.

“India is central to what the Internet is at the global level... India is not simply getting into the digital world. The country is already an incumbent, a driver in the digital world in every sense of the word,” Mr. Chehadé said speaking at an event organised by Observer Research Foundation.

ICANN, a non-profit organisation, is the global body that oversees operation and administration of the Internet domain name system.

He added since his last visit to the country in October 2013, India’s place at the global level “has taken a new energy that is remarkable”.

Mr. Chehadé said India plays an important role in making sure things are run in the right direction in digital economy. “Its shaping how digital economy would look like, not tomorrow, but 10 years form now because the next billion people who will share the Internet will come from here... you will shape the future of internet,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same event, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the future architecture of the Web should not be a prerogative of a few and should be open to all.

He added that Internet must be equitable, effective, open-for-all and no one should be able to claim early arrival benefit.

“Internet is one of the finest creations of human mind. It can’t become a prerogative of few. Internet has to connect with local to become global,” Mr. Prasad said.