National Telecom Policy To Focus On Digital Infrastructure, To Push For Uninterrupted High-Speed Broadband Access

The new National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2018 that will likely by unveiled on 1 May will change focus to digital services and provide uninterrupted, high-speed broadband, reports The Times of India. The policy will also focus on indigenisation of the sector to provide 40 lakh jobs.

The policy, still being developed will give higher priority to locally-manufactured equipment with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) residing in India for purposes of public procurement.

India currently ranks at the 134th position in the information and communications technology index (ICTI).

The NTP will also focus on a new National Broadband Mission (NBM) to improve India’s rankings at the ICTI. The NBM will focus on high-speed broadband connectivity in rural areas using a fibre-optic line to connect socio-economic institutions like the police, hospitals, and schools while at the same time allow internet to become an enabler in other sectors such infrastructure and railways.

An official of the Union Telecom Ministry stated that telecom minister Manoj Sinha wanted India’s 5G rollout to be on par with that of the rest of the world. The NTP will focus on 5G rollout and chart out a roadmap for artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data.

Harmonisation of spectrum will also be included in the NTP to enable better deployment of broadband services while satellite-enabled connectivity will be used to provide data services in areas where terrestrial connectivity is unable to reach.