Maplecroft ranking reveals India lagging behind Brazil,Russia and China.

      This report was published by the British consultancy Maplecroft.com at 30/03/2011.The title is above and it is a summary.

       New research developed to identify countries whose populations and economies are stifled by a lack of "digital inclusion", the ability to use and access information communication technologies (ICT) such as computers, internet and mobile phones.
       The digital inclusion index, uses 10 indicators to calculate the level of digital inclusion in 186 countries. These include numbers of cellular and broadband subscriptions, fixed telephones lines, household with PCs, internet users, etc.
       Of the BRIC nations, India 39ª is the only country to be classified as "extreme risk".  China 103ª,   Brazil 110ª, Russia 134ª  are rated "medium risk". The countries with the best access to ICT are:  Netherlands 186ª,  Denmark 185ª,  Sweden 183ª,  UK 182ª.
       "Digital inclusion is important in both enabling people to participate in economic activity as well as facilitating their participation in the very process of democratic governance and education." State professor Alyson Warhurst, CEO of Maplecroft.
       Internet freedom is also a serious issue especially in China and to a lesser extent Russia. In China, the internet remains heavily controlled. A sophisticated system of monitoring exist in the country and access to many websites is restricted and freedom of expression online is denied.