Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Monday called for bridging the digital divide "both among nations and within nations", saying connectivity and communications have become the fundamental rights of every person.

Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, he said it is difficult to imagine what India would have been without the 4G telecom network during the pandemic. "The digital divide must be bridged, both among nations and within nations. This is because connectivity and communications have become the basic needs, and also fundamental rights of every human being on the planet (just) as basic as food, clothing, and shelter," he said.  Ambani, who heads India's youngest but the largest telecom operator, said the day was saved because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'Digital India' much before the pandemic broke out

The billionaire identified vaccine divide among nations as the biggest challenge, and said the world has to get rid of it. While much of the developed world will be vaccinated by the end of the year, India has also taken a lot of steps and would do well by the end of the year or first quarter of next year, Ambani said.

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