Bandwidth (one key bottle area in the country) alone is expected to see a demand for 300 gbps by 2003. In the next year, following the recent ISP/gateway provider deregulation policy, bandwidth providers (both VSNL and private players) will see the availability shoot up from the current 325 mbps to 10 gbps. Speaking at a press briefing on the eve of India Internet World at New Delhi on Tuesday, Mr Mehta said that the next twelve months would see the emergence of wireless, broadband and convergence of media driven by the growing numbers of Internet users in the country.

Pointing to a recent report conducted by Nasscom, he said that 382 cities and small towns have an active Internet user community and the figure was estimated to double by next year.

Internet-over-cable as per the survey will reach 2 million homes by 2001, making the Internet accessible to the whole family. As per the survey, 37 million homes in India had access to cable TV while the country has only 5 million PC's.

``With access to the Internet opening up, a country like India with a population of over one billion, will see close to 30 per cent-300 million people of the total population becoming active users of the Internet by 2008,'' he said.

Going by the pace at which Indian businesses are looking at integrating their operations with the Internet -- broadband, bandwidth and cyber laws -- in particular are expected to shape the way of the emerging net economy.

``While the user base is going up, there is now a need for more women to get familiar with using the Internet. Bandwidth availability and easing certain restrictions with regard to certification agencies are also imperative,'' Mr Mehta said.

Restrictions on the number of certification agencies needed to be eased as long as they fulfilled the requirements and licenses required to be given for a five year period instead of the current one year licence, he said.