BJP’s IT & Telecom vision

Leader of India’s main Opposition party BJP LK Advani said if his party comes to power, it will actively promote opensource software and internet telephony. While promising one crore laptops to students, the party said in its IT and telecom vision document, it would spend Rs 10,000 crore on buying top-of-the line laptops with open source software. The party also plans to allow unrestricted internet telephony. The open-source alternative Linux has been gaining momentum in the country. Not only are big enterprises opting for it, even the small and medium size businesses are making use of the open source software. The Linux model is growing at a rate of about 28-30% on a YoY basis. Experts are expecting a 25-30% growth for the next couple of years. Another announcement from BJP, which may upset major telecom players is about the party’s promise to implement telecom regulator TRAI recommendation to allow ‘unrestricted’ VoIP (Voice over IP). VoIP will allow Indians to call national long distance and international long distance at near local call rates via the internet. “If a NDA government assumes power, unrestricted VoIP would be made legal,” LK Advani said .