IT or Software Technology Infrastructure in India

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is a society set up by the Department of Communication & Information Technology, Government Of India in 1991, with the objective of encouraging, promoting and boosting the Software Exports from India.

Taking it forward, Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had plans to make India a global Information Technology power and one of the largest generators and exporters of software in the world within the next ten years. IT Working Group envisioned Information Technology providing a unique and new opportunity to improve economic status of all sections of Indian society.

While on one hand IT is perceived to be a major facilitator in creation of wealth by way of India emerging as a global IT Superpower by 2008, on the other hand it offers new opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship to large number of people who are otherwise not able to participate in economic activities in a major way.

Though most of programs were slowly and poorly implimented and goals hardly achieved, India is surely on the right track. Not only exports, IT Companies are now discovering latent opportunities unlocked and growth observed in the domestic market over the past few years.

The Software Technology Park (STP) strategy is 100% export-oriented for the development and export of computer software using data communication links or in the form of physical media including export of professional services. STP can be a virtual software development unit or can be infrastructural complex set-up for providing necessary support for the STP units (STPI).

Most of these parks offer higher quality of Real estate and infrastructure – Telecom, power etc. with planned developments in social and allied infrastructure. Government sponsored IT parks are dominated by Indian IT companies with preference to buy land and construct their facilities or already built structures. There are instances of some MNCs who have leased space within these IT Parks.
While parks are preferred by MNC IT companies who are looking for quality infrastructure for smaller presence and are willing to pay a higher commercial terms for the same.

They lease and in some cases own their independent facilities. This is preferred since many times these firms can locate within places of their choice. Major IT Parks in India are;

Kerala - Technopark
Karnataka – Whitefield EPIZ
Maharashtra – SEEPZ, Hinjewadi, Talawade,
Tamil Nadu – Siruseri
Hyderabad – Uppal, Manikonda
West Bengal – Salt Lake
Karnataka – International Tech Park, Whitefield
Hyderabad – Hitech City,
Tamil Nadu – Tidel, OMR
Maharashtra – Mindspace, Magarpatta Cybercity,
Karnataka – Embassy Golf Links, RMZ Ecospace, Bagmane Technology Park, etc.
Hyderabad – Mindspace, RMZ, Vanenburg
Kolkata – DLF IT Park, Bengal Intelligent Park, etc.
NCR – DLF Cybercity

There are still some issues that need Improvement, viz.
- Higher real estate & operation/maintenance costs
- Lack of Common infrastructure within immediate vicinity of the park
- Common food courts catering to the budget of regular employees
- Compliance to international standards and norms such as NFPA, ADA, EHS, etc.
- Lack of adequate transportation facilities, and quality of utilities & services
- Improvement in the building maintenance standards and services provided
- Need for improvement in the overall infrastructure services provided within the development – power, water, telecom
- Establishment of social infrastructure such as Banks, retail shopping for convenience of employees
- Establishment of IT Parks in Tier II and Tier III cities, where most IT companies will look to expand – in pursuit of skill pool and human resources.
- Consistent policy across the country in terms of regulations, benefits, sops’ etc.

The Indian BPO segment has witnessed significant transformation. Starting with basic data entry tasks, the industry graduated to a high proportion of voice-based services and a range of back-offi ce processing activities. IT Software & Services Market and Indian Hardware Industry are also on double-digit growth track. A whole-hearted and integrated approach from developers, facilitaros, policy makers and IT Firms is essential for long-term success with growing competition from China and other Asian Countries.