NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran today said the government-industry Committee on Improving PC Penetration would work on bringing out a Rs 9,999 [$229] desktop to achieve the target of 65 PCs per 1,000 people by 2008.
“PC penetration will drive broadband. However, PC prices are not competitive enough. The committee will meet periodically and besides other issues, also work on low-cost PCs to fuel penetration in the country,” he said after accepting the recommendations of the committee, set up on January 11, 2005.
“A ’no compromise’ PC at Rs 9,999 will start giving momentum to PCs and make them more affordable. This PC will not compromise on hard disk, memory space or other features. It will be subsidised by software vendors and chipmakers,” he said.
Story found here.