Lok Sabha Question No. 316 (STARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: New Telecom Policy
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.316 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND  JANUARY, 2019

## NEW TELECOM POLICY

## *316. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the New Telecom Policy along with the benefits arising for the rural masses from the implementation of the said policy;
- (b) the time by which the said policy is likely to be implemented;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to accord special concession under the said policy to States with poor  network  connectivity due  to  topographical or similar constraints for setting up of broadband infrastructure and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the proposed areas for the 'NagarNet' and 'JanWi-Fi' in the State of Himanchal Pradesh, district-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Contd………2/-

## STATEMENT  TO  BE  LAID  ON  THE  TABLE  OF  LOK  SABHA  IN  RESPECT  OF PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *316  FOR  2 ND JANUARY, 2019  ON 'NEW TELECOM POLICY'.

(a) & (b) The key objectives of the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) -  2018  are  provisioning  of  broadband  for  all;  creating  4  million  additional  jobs  in  the digital communications sector; enhancing the contribution of the digital communications sector to 8% of India's GDP from approximately 6% in 2017; propelling India to the top 50  nations  in  the  Information  and  Communications  Technology  (ICT)  Development Index of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) from 134 in 2017; enhancing India's  contribution  to  global  value  chains;  and  ensuring  digital  sovereignty.  These objectives are targeted to be achieved by 2022.

The  policy,  inter-alia,  aims  to  provide  universal  broadband  connectivity  at  50 Mbps to every citizen; provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats of India by 2020  and  10  Gbps  by  2022;  ensure  connectivity  to  all  uncovered  areas;  attract investments  of  USD  100  Billion  in  the  digital  communications  sector;  train  1  million manpower for building new age skills; expand Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem to 5 billion connected devices; establish a comprehensive data protection regime for digital communications that safeguards the privacy, autonomy and choice of individuals and facilitates  India's  effective  participation  in  the  global  digital  economy;  and  enforce accountability  through  appropriate  institutional  mechanisms  to  assure  citizens  of  safe and secure digital communications infrastructure and services.

(c) The policy envisages channelizing the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for ensuring connectivity for all uncovered areas in the North Eastern States, Himalayan region, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, Aspirational Districts, Islands and Border Areas.

(d) Establishing 1 million public Wi-Fi Hotspots in urban areas and 2 million Wi-Fi Hotspots in rural areas of the country including in the State of Himachal Pradesh have been envisaged under the Nagarnet and JanWiFi initiatives in the Policy.

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