GOI’s new telecom policy expected by July-end

The government is likely to approve the new telecom policy by July, says telecom minister Manoj Sinha at an event organised to apprise media of the progress made by Govt in the last four years. It has to be Okayed first by the Union Cabinet. “I am hopeful of getting Cabinet approval on National Digital Communications Policy 2018 before the end of July,” he said while answering a query related to the subject.

The government has recently issued the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) which aims to provide access to every household with download speed of 50Mbps, attract investment of around Rs 6.5 lakh crore in the sector and create 4 million new job opportunities with a few years. “When this government came to power, the sector was in turmoil. There was trust deficit among stakeholders which we have re-established now,” Sinha said. Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said that the draft of the policy will be placed before the Telecom Commission — the apex decision making body of the Department of Telecom — in its meeting on June 29.The commission is also likely to discuss net-neutrality and framework for roll-out of new technology machine-to-machine communications. “When this Government came to power, the biggest challenge in telecom was that the whole sector was a victim of trust deficit, there was turmoil. In last four years we have restored confidence, brought transparency and established good Governance,” Sinha said. Sinha spoke about the Government’s efforts in ease of doing business, broadband for all and progress on the BharatNet project to connect all gram Panchayats to underscore the achievements of his ministry. DoT special secretary N Sivasailam said that there has been increase in public spending by six times, from Rs 9,000 crore in 2009-14 to Rs 60,000 crore in 2014-19, which includes both actual and planned expenditure. In last three years, investment in the sector has crossed Rs 3 lakh crore, from both Government and private firms, which are one-third of Rs 9 lakh crore spend on the sector till date, he said. Chambers of Commerce & Industry is waiting for the NDCP.  Govt has committed priority to this sector to increase connectivity and communication under its Digital India Policy. (image Courtesy : The Indian Express ).