[UA-discuss] intervention from Indian delegates

[Edmon Chung]

ARVIND GUPTA:  THANK YOU,  MR. CHAIRMAN.  ON BEHALF OF MY DELEGATION, I WANT
TO MAKE AN INTERVENTION, I WANT TO MAKE TWO POINTS.  EVERY SECOND 3 NEW
INDIANS EXPERIENCE THE INTERNET FOR THE FIRST TIME AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOT
FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND THE LANGUAGES THEY READ DO NOT USE ROMAN CHARACTERS.
THIS IS NOT TRUE ONLY FOR INDIANS BUT FOR A VAST MAJORITY OF THE NEXT
BILLION WHO WILL BE COMING ONLINE SOON.  FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT THERE IS HIGH QUALITY LOCAL LANGUAGE CONTENT AVAILABLE AND
THAT THE SERVICES WHICH WE ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED SUCH AS EMAIL WORK
SEAMLESSLY.  THIS IS POSSIBLE ONLY BY MAKING SURE THAT IDNs ARE ROLLED OUT
AND ARE SUPPORTED FULLY BY EVERYONE.  IN OTHER WORDS WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS
UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE WHICH IS AN AREA WHERE ICANN CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT
FACILITATING ROLE.