Building the digital bridge for tomorrow

The Northeast is expected to emerge as a digital corridor and innovation hub that seamlessly connects India with its eastern neighbours in the next 10 years

- Harsh Vardhan Shringla Subimal Bhattacharjee

Once viewed as a distant frontier, Northeast India has undergone a remarkable transformation. No longer a peripheral region, it is quickly emerging as India’s strategic gateway to the East, forming a crucial bridge between our “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” policy pillars.

PM Narendra Modis personal focus and attention to the Northeast has resulted in an unprecedented shift from a conflict-ridden and infrastructure-deficient region to a zone of development, connectivity, and prosperity. In the last 10 years, budgetary allocation for Northeast India has risen by over 200%, with over %5 trillion (approximately $60 billion) invested in creating new highways, rail links, border trade points and energy corridors, that are reshaping the regional landscape.

This massive infrastructure push is converting Northeast India into a vital land bridge, connecting the Indian subcontinent with Southeast Asia and beyond. The region's strategic importance cannot be overstated: It represents the physical manifestation of India’s broader ambitions in the Indo-Pacific; it is where the subcontinent merges seamlessly with Asean.

But Northeast India’s emergence as a land bridge extends far beyond physical infrastructure. The region is rapidly evolving into a digital hub that connects not just territories, but minds and markets across borders. India’s commitment to digital connectivity in the Northeast includes building cutting-edge telecommunications and internet infrastructure that positions the region at the forefront of the digital revolution.

The establishment of 5G training labs across all eight northeastern states exemplifies this commitment. These facilities are designed to bridge the digital divide and equip the region's youth with skills essential for the information age. The goal is ambitious yet achievable: transforming Northeast India into India’s “new growth engine” in the digital economy.