Exactly 30 years ago, on January 1, 1983, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) switched from using Network Control Protocol to Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol or TCP / IP – the basic foundation or the backbone for the Internet.

At InformationWeek, we are honored to present a perspective from S Ramadorai, Vice Chairman, TCS, who shares his views on the transformational power of the Internet.  

Here is Ramadorai, in his own words:

“The early days of the Internet came to us in the form of an easier e-mail system, slow and limited browsing experiences but also a sense of wonder that we were witnessing something that could evolve beyond our ability to see, at that time. And it has done just that.

As a transformational medium for all of humanity, the Internet is unparalleled. It has greatly reduced distances - physical, geographical and social. If knowledge is power, it has put this power within the grasp of anyone with a mobile phone and a curious mind. This network has grown in a creative, unfettered manner, in the true spirit of multistakeholder partnership. It has created opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and global collaboration in problem-solving. This in turn is not just creating employment and economic success stories, but also creating new models to bridge the digital divide in countries like India. There are so many areas in our country, such as education, healthcare, vocational training and skills development, agri-services, financial inclusion, environment management, etc., where the Internet is enabling positive change.

As hundreds of millions more of our citizens get Internet-enabled, typically through mobile devices, we will see more and more poverty alleviation and social empowerment. To my mind, what the Internet is doing for us today is still not as exciting as the promise of what it will do for us in the coming decades.”