<P> Telecommunication has supported the socioeconomic development of India and has played a significant role to narrow down the rural - urban digital divide to some extent . It also has helped to increase the transparency of governance with the introduction of e-governance in India . The government has pragmatically used modern telecommunication facilities to deliver mass education programmes for the rural folk of India . </P> <P> According to London - based telecom trade body GSMA, the telecom sector accounted for 6.5% of India's GDP in 2015, or about ₹ 9 lakh crore (US $140 billion), and supported direct employment for 2.2 million people in the country . GSMA estimates that the Indian telecom sector will contribute ₹ 14.5 lakh crore (US $230 billion) to the economy and support 3 million direct jobs and 2 million indirect jobs by 2020 . </P> <P> Telecommunications in India began with the introduction of the telegraph . The Indian postal and telecom sectors are one of the worlds oldest . In 1850, the first experimental electric telegraph line was started between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour . In 1851, it was opened for the use of the British East India Company . The Posts and Telegraphs department occupied a small corner of the Public Works Department, at that time . </P> <P> The construction of 4,000 miles (6,400 km) of telegraph lines was started in November 1853 . These connected Kolkata (then Calcutta) and Peshawar in the north; Agra, Mumbai (then Bombay) through Sindwa Ghats, and Chennai (then Madras) in the south; Ootacamund and Bangalore . William O'Shaughnessy, who pioneered the telegraph and telephone in India, belonged to the Public Works Department, and worked towards the development of telecom throughout this period . A separate department was opened in 1854 when telegraph facilities were opened to the public . </P>

When was first telegraph line started in india