Internet Governance

Internet Governance encompasses all activities pertaining to the management of the Critical Internet resources and other Internet Protocol related technologies, applications, resources and services. This implies formulation of regulatory and governing policies of shared principles, norms, rules, decision making procedures and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet by Government in cooperation/consultation with the private sector and civil society concerning their respective roles.

Some of the significant initiatives of DIT in this area include:

Research & Development Initiatives in the areas of Next Generation Network, Application Development, Multilingualisation of the Internet, Web Accessibility for all, Infrastructure establishment, International representation of India’s public Policy Concerns etc.

1. Pragmatic Efficient Reliable Internetworking Solution Using Consumer-Centric Omnipresent Ethernet by IIT Bombay, Mumbai.

The project envisages development of Next generation Internet design, deploying the technologies of Optical Networking, Carrier Ethernet, and high-speed communication systems. In its 1st 12 months the project team has already developed prototypes of Ethernet switch, which has been accepted by MTNL for establishing two of its data-centers. The technology developed is not only indigenous but 1st developed in India.

2. Develop a Self-Managed Network Solution – Research & Development in Network to Measurement and QoS

An adaptive, self-configuring network solution and named it EDGE (Enterprise Wide Self-Managed Network Solution) which works with the TCP/IP protocol, applicable to LAN, WAN, Intranet, Extranet and Internet networks. An IDS (Intrusion Detection System) called N@G integrated with EDGE has also been developed. The project is being processed for closure.

3. Migration to IPv6 from IPv4

DIT is supporting workshops and seminars on the need for early adoption of IPv6, training of professionals and network operators in deployment of IPv6 and dual stack architectural setup of existing IPv4 network to make the network IPv6 ready and the development of applications and services that would increase the demand for IPv6 in the country.

4. Mobile IPv6 by ERNET and IISc Bengaluru

The project envisages demonstrating the mobility supported by IPv6 Protocol for seamless transfer from one form of network to another such as LAN to WAN, etc.

5. Development of Information Forensic Framework for Secure E-Voting System by Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai

The project envisages investigating the various aspects of creation, operation and evolution of Internet Governance System and evolving a new methodological approach for authentication, authorization and access control for facilitating e voting. The framework has been developed and some samples have been demonstrated. Some additional validation features and field tests are under process.

6. Development of Intelligent Search Engine for “Concept Extraction Contextual Data Retrieval” – CDAC Bangalore and IIIT Bangalore

The project envisages development of an Intelligent Knowledge backbone that would help academics, including researchers, students, teachers, academic committees, academic institutions etc. The System framework was developed and demonstrated, content populating and field tests are under process.

7. Internationalized Domain Names – Implementation for Indian Languages

India has submitted to ICANN its request for Country Code Domain Names in 7 Indian Languages and scripts namely Hindi (Devanagari), Bengali (Bengali), Gujarati (Gujarati), Punjabi (Gurumukhi), Tamil (Tamil) and Telugu (Telugu) under ICANN’s Fast Track Process. The IDNccTLD strings have passed the string evaluation test. It has been published and is now under the Root Zone delegation process. All processes and evaluations are underway for B test of the domain registration process. The Domain Name Policy for registration of Domain Names has been drafted in consultation with States and is published on the website of DIT & C-DAC. Internationalized Domain Names (351 KB)

8. Development Implementation of IDN Policies (ABNF & Language Tables) for Registrars and Making IDN 22 Official Languages Compliant by CDAC Pune.

The project is to develop and test all the backend registration processing tools for registration of Domain Names in Indian Languages by Registrar/registry and front-end GUI for registrant and registrar. IDN floating Keyboards, language Lookup tables, software for registration of valid domain names without replication worldwide will be developed under the project.

9. Open Source Web Browser for the Blind People

The project envisages the development of an open source web browser with voice feedback for the blind with speech facilitation for navigation or data entry in a web page. Tools developed include Text extraction engine; Text to Braille transliteration system in Linux platform. Integration with Braille Devices and open source English TTS engine to the web browser is under process.

10. Establishment of a National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)

Five additional Internet Exchange Nodes have been operationalised at Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Mohali (Chandigarh) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) to add to the existing NIXI hubs at Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Noida. The Internet Exchange nodes have been successful in ensuring that the Internet traffic originating within India and also with destination as India, remain within the country, thus resulting in improved traffic latency, reduced bandwidth cost and better security.

11. Establishment of .IN Internet Domain Registry

The Registry for the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) Name .IN is being managed by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). Presently, more than 73 Registrars have been accredited to offer .IN domain name registration worldwide to customers. In turn, it has also helped in proliferation of Web hosting in the country and Indian language content in the Internet. 8 lakh .IN Domain Names have been registered till November 2010. Two Data Centers have been established in Delhi and Chennai towards disaster management with an uptime of maximum 5 minutes.

12. Awareness Programmes

Workshops, Trainings for Registrars, Internet Service Providers, Network Service Providers, Technology developers, Human-Machine interface developers, Users, etc on the following issues:

• IPv6 concerning deployment and application oriented projects.
• .IN Domain Name Registration – registry process and policies, dispute resolution policy, etc.
• Domain Names in Indian Languages - registry process and policies, dispute resolution policy, etc.
• Internet Governance Issues of Access, Security & Privacy, Openness, Diversity, Critical Internet Resources and their Management principles, Child Online Protection, Capacity Building, Open Standards, etc.

13. ICANN - Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Secretariat in DIT, New Delhi

A Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Secretariat of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been set up in the Department of Information Technology. The GAC is an Advisory Committee comprising representatives of national governments, multinational governmental organizations and treaty organizations and distinct economies. It is the key forum for discussing the public policy issues relating to the Internet concerning the standardization, protocols and technology and affecting the social and economic life of the countries.

14. Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

India is a member of the Multi Stakeholder Advisory Group of the Internet Governance Forum of the United Nations. India’s concerns on the issues of public policy on Internet and its Governance is appropriately voiced in the meetings of the IGF through regular participation, holding workshops and Dynamic Coalition meetings and multi-lateral and bi-lateral meetings.

New R&D proposals initiated

15. Virtualized Cloud Computing Infrastructure Using Light-trails and Very Fast Switching

The project envisages integrating and deploying innovations at the physical and data layer to meet stand-alone, end-to-end service manifested for cloud computing needs. Two technologies of light-trails and Omnipresent Ethernet are proposed to be integrated. Light-trails technology platform can provide for optical layer multicasting, dynamic bandwidth allocation and sub-wavelength granular support at low price points making it an ideal transport layer technology for cloud needs.

16. Global Internet Governance and Advocacy (GIGA)

The project envisages to initiating and conducting fundamental and applied research to state and re-state Legal Systems and Instruments and its interface with Internet Technology in every branch of Law- Civil, Criminal, Evidential, Fiscal and International and its dissemination amongst Policy makers in Executive/Judiciary/Legislature/ Academia/Industry.

17. Deploying Omnipresent Ethernet Based Data-Centers in Actual Networks - Validation of Project Periscope

The project envisages validating Omnipresent Ethernet Switch developed through the DIT funded project PERISCOPE (Pragmatic Efficient Reliable Internetworking Solution using Consumer centric Omnipresent Ethernet) in a real network through deployment. MTNL Mumbai has agreed to deploy switches made using the Omnipresent Ethernet technology in setting up two of their data-centers in Mumbai.

18. India the Impact of Broadband –Assessment Report

The project proposes to study the Impact of Broadband/Internet on the economy, especially to GDP growth, social empowerment including education, healthcare, rural commerce and government services, bring out Case studies on “what is working” and “what is not working” based on samples from States and Union Territories.

Contact Person:

Dr Govind
Scientist G
Department of Information Technology
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
Electronics Niketan, 6 CGO Complex, New Delhi – 110003
Telephone: +91-11-24365434
e-Mail: drgovind AT nic.in