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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context: 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) published the draft of the National Telecom Policy 2025.

NEW TELECOM POLICY (NTP) 2025 

What are the features of the NTP 2025?

The objective is to achieve "Universal and Meaningful Connectivity" => Connect every citizen and make sure they can use the internet and phone services in a way that truly helps them, and bridging the "Digital Divide".

What are the specific targets for connecting people by 2030?

1. 100% 4G Population Coverage  
2. 90% 5G Population Coverage  

How does the policy plan to achieve these connectivity goals?

Fiberisation of Towers => Currently, only about 46% of mobile towers use super-fast fiber optic cables. The policy wants to increase this to 80%. Fiber optic cables making the internet faster and more reliable.

BharatNet Project => Aim to connect every village with high-speed internet using fiber optics. 

• The goal is 100% "GP Fiberisation" (Gram Panchayat Fiberisation).
• All village councils will have fiber internet, with more than 98% "uptime" (meaning the internet is working almost all the time).

Fixed-Line Broadband => The policy targets 10 crore households having fixed-line broadband connections; home internet connections, through fiber or cable, which are more stable and faster than mobile internet for homes.

Flexible Framework for Satellite Services (NTN) => Creating flexible rules that allow satellite technology to provide internet, especially in very remote or difficult-to-reach areas where laying cables is hard. This type of service is called Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

Building India as a Global Telecom Powerhouse

Focuses on "Promoting Innovation & Domestic Manufacturing", to make India a global leader in telecom technology and a major producer of telecom equipment. India wants to move from being a user of technology to a creator and exporter of it.

How does the policy plan to drive innovation in telecom?

• Focusing on Advanced Technologies => Developing and using technologies like 5G/6G (next-generation mobile networks), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum computing, Satellite Communication (Satcom), and Blockchain.
• Global Share in 6G IPR => Hold 10% of the global "Intellectual Property Rights" (IPR) in 6G technology by 2030. 
• Promoting Startups and R&D => Encourage new tech companies (startups) and increase investment in Research & Development (R&D) to create new telecom solutions.

To reduce reliance on imports and create jobs, the policy aims for:

• 150% Increase in Output in the total amount of telecom equipment India produces.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products provide financial incentives to companies that manufacture telecom equipment in India, encouraging both domestic and international players to set up production units
• 50% Import Substitution, manufacturing half of the telecom equipment that India currently imports.
• Telecom Manufacturing Zones (TMZ) => Creating special areas dedicated to telecom manufacturing, which can provide incentives and infrastructure for companies to set up factories.

Boosting the Economy and Keeping Networks Safe 

Focuses on achieving "Economic Growth & Secure Networks", to make the telecom sector a major contributor to the economy while also ensuring that all digital networks are safe from cyber threats.

What are the economic targets set by the policy for 2030?

• Double Telecom Sector's GDP Contribution to 11%. 
• Attract ₹1 Lakh Crore Annual Investment to build new infrastructure and expand services.
• Create 1 Million New Jobs & Upskill 1 Million Workers 

How does the policy plan to ensure secure networks?

• National Telecom SafeNet Establishment => Setting up a dedicated system or framework to monitor and protect telecom networks from cyberattacks and vulnerabilities. 
• Biometric ID for Users => Using biometric identification (like fingerprints or face scans) for telecom users to make it harder for fraudsters and criminals to use phone connections anonymously.
• 50% Reduction in Cybersecurity Incident Response Time. Faster response means less damage.

What government initiatives contribute to economic growth and security in telecom?

• Ease of Doing Business to simplify regulations and make it easier for telecom companies to operate and invest.
• National Cybersecurity Policy for telecom network security.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) to help users clean their devices and provide information on cyber threats.
• Telecom Security Guidelines for telecom service providers to ensure network security and data protection.

Way Forward

The Draft New Telecom Policy 2025 is a "bold, inclusive, and future-ready policy" designed for the next decade. After the consultation period, the government will review all the feedback received.

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Source:  THE HINDU