The digital age has given rise to a new kind of continent; one
not defined by geography, but by connectivity, imagination, and shared
protocols. This “digital continent” is built on the foundational ethos of
openness: open standards, open participation, and open innovation. From the
World Wide Web to India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), the journey
of open networks is reshaping not just commerce, but the very architecture of
digital society.
The Power of Open Protocols
The internet’s early success was rooted in open protocols.
Tim Berners-Lee’s decision to make the web’s architecture freely available
catalyzed a wave of global innovation. Email, powered by SMTP, became a
universal mode of communication because it was interoperable, anyone could
build on it, use it, and connect through it.
These protocols didn’t just enable technology; they fostered
ecosystems. They allowed diverse actors, governments, startups, communities, to
participate without permission or gatekeeping. The result was a flourishing
digital commons.
Yet, when it came to commerce, the world veered toward
proprietary platforms. Amazon, Alibaba, and others built closed ecosystems that
centralized control. While efficient, these platforms created silos, limited
choice, and concentrated power. The internet of transactions became fragmented.
ONDC: A Reference Model, Not the Destination
India’s ONDC emerged as a bold corrective. Conceived as a
public digital infrastructure, ONDC is not a marketplace or app; it’s a
protocol layer that enables interoperability across buyer and seller platforms.
It allows any seller to be discovered by any buyer interface, provided they
speak the same digital language.
ONDC’s early success, spanning groceries, mobility,
financial services, and electronics, demonstrates the viability of open
commerce. But its true value lies not in its scale, but in its replicability.
ONDC is a reference model, not a global monolith. It shows that open networks
can work, and that they can be federated across domains and borders.
Beyond Commerce: The Architecture of Open Networks
Open networks are not limited to retail. The same principles,
interoperability, decentralization, and inclusivity, can be applied across
sectors:
- Agriculture:
Farmers, processors, and buyers can transact through open agri-networks,
improving market access and price transparency.
- Tourism:
Guides, accommodations, and transport providers can be discovered across
interoperable platforms, reducing dependency on global aggregators.
- Healthcare:
Patients, providers, insurers, and pharmacies can connect through open
health networks, improving care coordination and reducing costs.
- Education:
Learners, educators, and institutions can share resources and credentials
across open learning networks, fostering lifelong learning.
Each domain can build its own network using shared
protocols, tailored to local needs but capable of global interoperability. This
is the architecture of the digital continent: a mesh of open networks, each
sovereign yet connected.
Federation, Not Centralization
The vision is not to create one giant network, but many
interoperable ones. Just as the internet connects websites across domains, open
networks can connect commerce, health, education, and governance.
Federation allows for diversity. A tourism network in Bhutan
can interoperate with a mobility network in Brazil. A farmer in Uganda can be
discovered by a buyer in India. Innovation can flourish without centralized
control.
This model also respects sovereignty. Countries and
communities can define their own rules, data policies, and governance
structures, while still participating in a global digital economy.
Inclusion by Design
Open networks are inherently inclusive. They lower barriers
to entry by removing the need for proprietary integrations. A small seller, a
rural entrepreneur, or a local cooperative can join the network once and be
visible everywhere.
This is especially powerful for:
- MSMEs
and informal sector players
- Women entrepreneurs and self-help groups
- Rural and tribal communities
- Artisans and creators
By decoupling discovery from dominance, open networks
democratize visibility. They allow participants to retain autonomy while
accessing scale.
Iteration and Local Customization
Open networks are not static. They evolve through
experimentation. ONDC’s early journey involved handholding, incentives, and
protocol refinement. Other networks will need similar iterative approaches.
Local customization is key. Buyer apps can curate offerings
for specific communities. Protocols can be adapted to local languages, payment
systems, and regulatory norms. Feedback loops can drive continuous improvement.
This mirrors the spirit of the web: decentralized, diverse,
and user-driven.
The Role of Policy Makers
To build and sustain open networks, policy makers must go
beyond regulation. They must become architects of digital public
infrastructure. This involves:
- Investing in foundational layers:
identity, payments, data sharing, and consent frameworks.
- Promoting open standards: ensuring
interoperability across platforms and domains.
- Supporting capacity building: enabling
small players to adopt and adapt technology.
- Preventing proprietary lock-ins: ensuring
that public services and subsidies are not tied to closed platforms.
The goal is not just to regulate platforms, but to enable
alternatives. To seed ecosystems that are resilient, inclusive, and
innovation-friendly.
A Global Movement
ONDC has inspired interest from countries across Asia,
Africa, and Latin America. But the movement must go further. It must become a
global conversation about digital sovereignty, economic inclusion, and
protocol-based collaboration.
International organizations, development banks, and
philanthropic institutions can play a catalytic role. They can fund pilots,
convene stakeholders, and support capacity building. They can help create a
global commons of open protocols—available to all, owned by none.
The Internet of Transactions
We are entering a new phase of the internet, not just as a
network of information, but as a network of transactions. This “Internet of
Transactions” will be:
- Interoperable: connecting diverse actors
across domains and borders.
- Inclusive: enabling participation without
gatekeeping.
- Iterative: evolving through feedback and
experimentation.
- Infrastructure-led: built on public
digital rails, not private silos.
It will offer choice without coercion, scale without
centralization, and innovation without inhibition.
Conclusion: Building the Digital Continent
The digital continent is not a metaphor, it is a blueprint.
It is a call to reimagine digital ecosystems as open, federated, and inclusive.
ONDC is one landmark on this journey, but the path stretches far beyond.
As countries and communities build their own networks, they
contribute to a global mesh of opportunity. They reclaim agency, foster
innovation, and create resilient digital economies.
The future is not platform versus platform. It is network of
networks. It is openness as infrastructure. And it is ours to build together.
