On 15 August 1995, alongside the unfurling of the tricolour, India quietly took a giant leap into the digital age. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) launched the Gateway Internet Access Service (GIAS), marking the beginning of public internet access in India. Before this, internet connectivity was limited to educational institutes, government offices, and tech parks.

Long before the official launch, innovators like Suchit and Anish Nanda were building India’s first digital communities through Live Wire! BBS (LWBBS) in 1989. Their efforts connected early users nationwide and laid the foundation for India’s digital ecosystem. Collaborators like Atul Chitnis, Kishore Bhargava, and Dr Raj Mehta helped empower users through guides, support systems, and community building, turning a complex technology into a resource accessible to households.

Initially available in a few metro cities with limited dial-up lines, VSNL soon expanded services to tier 2 cities, scaling infrastructure and introducing leased line services for enterprises. By 2000, VSNL had 8 lakh users, setting the stage for India’s modern digital society. Today, with over 900 million users, the internet touches every aspect of life-from education, banking, and communication to entertainment and e-commerce.

The 1995 launch remains a landmark moment, honoring the vision of pioneers who transformed India into a connected nation, shaping its journey toward the digital revolution we experience today.