U.S.-India Economic Dialogue: U.S. - India Cooperation on Information and Communications Technologies

The ICTWG held its inaugural meeting in Washington D.C. December 7-8, 2005. The meeting was Co-chaired by the State Department’s U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy Ambassador David Gross and Additional Secretary M. Madhavan Nambiar of India’s Department of Information Technology. Several other U.S. and Indian government agencies concerned with investment and trade in telecommunications, information technologies, and media and broadcasting participated.

The ICTWG discussed developments in the information technologies and telecommunications sectors in both countries. It focused on discussion of approaches governments can take to create an investment and regulatory environment that can maximize the development of the ICT sector. The dialogue addressed outstanding issues as well as opportunities for collaboration in the areas of universal service, liberalization of the ICT sector, the appropriate government role in the adoption of new technology, and facilitation for cooperation among centers of excellence in the two countries. The ICTWG reviewed the results of the November, 2005 World Summit on the Information Society and discussed issues of mutual importance in multilateral organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union.

Given the very positive tone of the first meeting, participants agreed to work to develop issues further and to structure collaboration with the private sector through creation of bilateral public-private sector sub-groups on selected topics such as telecommunication and information technology. The next meeting of the working group will be in New Delhi in the latter part of the year.

U.S.-India ICT cooperation between ICTWG meetings has been carried forward by frequent contact between U.S. and Indian officials, and between them and the private sector. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi supports ICT cooperation through regular contact with the Government of India officials and with U.S. ICT companies and associations on policy and advocacy issues. Ambassador Gross visited New Delhi, February 22-25, 2006 to maintain the momentum of the ICT dialogue and made progress on several key ICT issue immediately prior to the President's trip to India. He met with Indian telecommunications, information technology, broadcasting and regulatory officials, and private sector representatives. Topics of current mutual interest that he discussed included new Indian broadcasting regulations; the allocation of spectrum in India for wireless communications; and interconnection charges on incoming long-distance calls. In addition, Ambassador Gross addressed the issue of ensuring that the new international long distance licensing requirements will not negatively impact U.S. carriers serving India or prevent them from taking advantage of the recent increase in the ceiling for foreign direct investment in the telecommunications sector in India from 49 to 74 percent.

The U.S.- India Information and Communication Technology Working Group and related cooperation continue to be an important example of how regular dialogue and increased transparency can benefit both countries. Our bilateral work on ICT recognizes the role of information and communications technology in promoting sustained economic growth and strengthening the U.S.-Indian economic partnership.