New telecom policy aims to provide broadband to all citizens, create 40 lakh jobs

Aiming to provide broadband access to every citizen in next four years, the Union Cabinet has approved the new telecom policy 'National Digital Communications Policy-2018'.

Every citizen will get 50 Mbps speed, as per the new policy.

Through new telecom policy, the govt envisions to fulfil information & communication needs of citizens. The Centre will establish ubiquitous, resilient, secure, accessible and affordable Digital Communications Infra & Services supporting India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society.

The policy will attract $100 billion investments into the country’s digital communications sector. It will also create at least 40 lakh new jobs in the sector in the next four years, said Minister for Communications Manoj Sinha.

#NDCP2018 pic.twitter.com/kzksTyT4ek

— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinhabjp) September 26, 2018

#NDCP2018 pic.twitter.com/Db3YdG2VTh

— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinhabjp) September 26, 2018

The new telecom policy has been announced after 5 years. As part of Bharat net programme last mile connectivity and broadband technology are already being provided at gram panchayats in the country.

The communication sector has been evolving at a rapid pace globally, especially with technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). There was a need for a new consumer-centric and application-centric policy, added Sinha.

The policy will leverage AI and Big Data to enhance the quality of service offered.

It will also lead to an increase in the sector’s contribution to India’s GDP from the current level of around 6% to 8%. It plans to take India to the top 50 nations in the Information and Communication Technology Development Index of the International Telecommunication Union from 134 in 2017.

The telecom industry is debt-laden, the new policy has also called for a review of levies and fees such as licence fee and spectrum charges, to help the sector. The govt will take a decision on it in the coming months.