Microsoft is hoping to bride the digital divide that India is currently facing via TV White Space technology. Microsoft is currently running a TV White Space Technology pilot programme with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. This will aim at bringing low-cost broadband Internet connection to four educational institutions in the Srikakulam district which had no connectivity earlier. The pilot programme reveals how technology can truly fill the digital gap that India faces at the time.
Microsoft on Digital India Microsoft has also partnered with the government to deliver great, scalable, secure, cloud-enabled services to assist in expanding reach and improving citizen participation in government affairs. Speaking with regards to its plans for a Digital India, Microsoft’s chairman Bhaskar Pramanik pointed out that Digital India will require a huge IT set up. The Government will either invest in physical infrastructure including roads, education, healthcare, etc or construct IT systems. He feels that Microsoft’s scale of cloud data centers will help it in becoming the backbone for Digital India. Microsoft will be creating a world-class platform for Indian startups, ISVs as well as software companies. It plans to boost innovation and Make in India.
Microsoft’s Cloud Strategy for India Microsoft’s cloud services are based on the basic principles of security, privacy and control, compliance and transparency. Their local cloud services are ideal for governments and businesses that have a good amount of investments in owned IT infrastructure. This holds good also for regulated industries including BFSI, government departments and state-owned enterprises that can now seamlessly stretch their existing IT infrastructure to take advantage of public cloud services and local data residency.
Microsoft’s Strategies for Startups and Partner Microsoft’s local cloud has made way for fresher business opportunities for SIs, ISVs and partners, developers and startups. Indian companies including Zing HR, Miles Software, CloudCherry and Shephertz have tied up ith Microsoft for deploying their custom applications and solutions on Azure.
Microsoft’s Indian Clientele Microsoft’s existing customers for cloud services include banks, financial institutions, hospitals, media companies, e-commerce organizations, government departments, and telecom. Hospitals like AIIMS and Fortis have adopted Microsoft local cloud solutions. In the BFSI segment, IDFC and ICICI Lombard. Kotak Mahindra Bank’s payroll processing and portfolio analytics and HDFC Bank’s customer experience analytics.
