Asia Internet Symposium, Chennai 2014

Theme

India in the Open and Global Internet

About

The Internet has truly enabled free and open channels of information, trusted as an online world that everyone can access and develop in a connected, borderless and permission-less fashion, creating opportunity and growth for all. In the wake of reported surveillance on Internet communication, growing debates on network neutrality, the need to foster an open, secure and trustworthy Internet has become more important than ever. Around the globe, people are debating on actions that could affect Internet users of today and tomorrow, there is a large consensus that the processes of Internet governance needs to more transparent, accountable and inclusive in order to ensure a continued access to a free and open Internet.

India is among the fastest growing Internet markets, already surpassing United States as the second largest web market in the world after China. With more and more people accessing the Internet through mobile, the country’s Internet contribution to GDP could increase from 1.6 percent in 2012 to 3.3 per cent by 2015, according to McKinsey.

The Internet Society’s Asia Internet Symposium Chennai will bring together chapter Members and local community Leaders from Business, Civil Society and Government to learn about current issues and discuss India’s role in Internet Governance and gather inputs on ways by which India could broadly contribute to the further evolution of the free and open Global Internet.

The event will be organized in two sections. In the first session, the following key points will be presented on:

  •    What are the key fears to an open and free Internet?
  •    What are the key Internet governance issues surfacing in India?
  •    How to further leverage the potential of an open Internet for strengthening social and economic development in India?
  •    What are the opportunities to educate public and to improve their participation in the Internet Governance debates?

The second session will host a round table discussion to generate broad thinking on positive ways by which India could broadly contribute to further the evolution of the Free and Open Internet. The round table is to bring a very broad discussion that would go beyond India’s concerns as a Nation, and would bring up higher thoughts on ways of strengthening Internet Governance in a manner that is fair of the whole world. It would be a meaningful discussion on positive ways by which India could contribute to the Internet in a manner that it would further the progress of the Internet as a Free and Open eco-system causing worldwide prosperity and well being, as also point to solutions to increase global trust and strengthen the Internet Governance framework.

Participants / Invitees

  • Representatives from Government.
  • Representatives from Business Community.
  • Representatives from Academia.
  • Civil Society Organization.

Agenda

TIME SCHEMA
16:00 – 16:30Registration / Participants to be seated
16:30 – 16:40Welcome and Symposium highlights, ISOC India Chennai
16:40 – 16:50  Key Address:   Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, DietY, Government of India
16:50 – 17:00Opening Remarks:
Rajnesh Singh, Regional Bureau Director, Internet Society
17:00 – 17:15   17:15 – 17:30Key Note:
Rajasekhar Ramaraj, Former Member Board of Directors, ICANN   Key Note:
Bharat V. Epur, Director, Epur Investments
17:30 – 18.00Coffee / Networking Break
18:00 – 19.30Round Table Discussion with Businees & Community Leaders inlcuding:   Rajasekhar Ramaraj, Former Member Board of Directors, ICANN Bharat V. Epur, Director, Epur Investments Rajnesh Singh, Regional Bureau Director, Internet Society Ram Mohan, Executive Vice President, Afilias Dr. Govind, CEO, National Internet Exchange of India Samiran Gupta, Head of India, ICANN Sivasubramanian Mthusamy, President, Internet Society India Chennai
19.30 – 19.45Wrap Up & Note of Thanks
          19.45Dinner
Date and Time

16:00 – 19:45 UTC +5.30

Tuesday 02 December 2014

Location

Sheraton Park Hotel

Chennai, India