Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2025

Syllabus: Environment

Source: BT

Context: The Ministry of Communications released the Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2025, proposing incentives for using Indian-made telecom equipment.

About Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2025:

What is Draft NTP 2025?

A forward-looking national policy framework by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that outlines India’s telecom priorities from 2025 to 2030, focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat, universal access, and future technologies like 6G and quantum communication.

Key Features of Draft NTP 2025:

• Domestic Equipment Push

• Proposes incentives for operators using locally made telecom gear to support Indian firms like Tejas Networks and HFCL. Aims to substitute 50% of telecom imports through homegrown manufacturing.

• Proposes incentives for operators using locally made telecom gear to support Indian firms like Tejas Networks and HFCL.

• Aims to substitute 50% of telecom imports through homegrown manufacturing.

• R&D and IP Innovation:

• Plans to double India’s telecom R&D expenditure, support 500 tech startups, and capture 10% of global 6G-related IPRs. Emphasizes blended finance, fund-of-fund models to promote innovation.

• Plans to double India’s telecom R&D expenditure, support 500 tech startups, and capture 10% of global 6G-related IPRs.

• Emphasizes blended finance, fund-of-fund models to promote innovation.

• Infrastructure & Universal Connectivity:

• Targets 100% 4G coverage and 90% 5G coverage by 2030. Increase tower fiberization from 46% to 80% and fully connect all gram panchayats via BharatNet with 98% uptime. Expand fixed-line broadband to 100 million households and deploy 1 million public Wi-Fi hotspots.

• Targets 100% 4G coverage and 90% 5G coverage by 2030.

• Increase tower fiberization from 46% to 80% and fully connect all gram panchayats via BharatNet with 98% uptime.

• Expand fixed-line broadband to 100 million households and deploy 1 million public Wi-Fi hotspots.

• Employment and Skill Development:

• Plans to create 1 million new jobs and upskill 1 million workers in emerging telecom areas.

• Export and Investment Targets:

• Double exports of telecom products and services. Achieve ₹1 trillion annual investments in the telecom sector.

• Double exports of telecom products and services.

• Achieve ₹1 trillion annual investments in the telecom sector.

• Secure and Trusted Networks:

• Proposes equipment audits to weed out non-trusted telecom hardware, with a focus on national security via quantum-secure systems.

• Green Telecom Goals:

• Set to cut the sector’s carbon footprint by 30%, emphasizing sustainable deployment and clean energy integration.

Significance of the Policy:

• Atmanirbhar Telecom Boost: Revives focus on Make-in-India in telecom equipment, reducing reliance on Chinese imports.

• Bridging Digital Divide: Addresses rural-urban digital gap via aggressive fiberization and public Wi-Fi expansion.

• Revamping PLI Shortcomings: Acknowledges past lapses in PLI disbursements and attempts corrective action through demand generation and clearer policy alignment.

• Global Tech Race Readiness: Positions India for 6G leadership, leveraging startups and IP development.

• Holistic Sectoral Reform: Envisions synergy across connectivity, innovation, investment, and national security.

Conclusion:

The Draft NTP 2025 marks a strategic shift toward self-reliance, innovation, and secure telecom infrastructure. By addressing past policy gaps and setting bold targets, it aims to transform India into a global telecom hub. Its success, however, hinges on timely execution and ecosystem alignment.