Bill Gates praises India's connectivity infrastructure, digital networks

New Delhi: Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday said India has "great" digital network and high levels of smartphone usage with "very good" connectivity and added this will be the cheapest 5G market.

Under the G20 presidency of India, a session on 'Building resilient and inclusive economies- the Promise of Digital Public Infrastructure' was held on Wednesday in New Delhi.

Microsoft co-founder Gates, who addressed the session, appreciated India's competitive private market, and reliable and low-cost connectivity, and went on to say this will be the cheapest 5G market.

India has a great digital network and a very high percentage of people using smartphones, he noted.

Telecom and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed 2023 a landmark year and said digital technology has come of age.

Artificial intelligence, 5G and quantum computing have matured to become a mainstream technology.

India has created a unique framework for the digital economy that focuses on making a difference in people's lives, the minister said.