MUMBAI: In a bid to prepare a roadmap for the implementation of the National Digital Communications Policy 2018, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is planning to hold discussions with stakeholders.
TRAI chairman RS Sharma said, “We are readying ourselves and consult stakeholders on the policy aspects that require attention. The newly-approved National Digital Communications Policy also contained proposals put forth by the sector regulator.”
According to him the new policy clearly lays down principles for the Digital India of tomorrow and the fifth-generation (5G) technology. The cabinet has approved the National Digital Communications Policy 2018 that aims to attract $100 billion worth of investment and create as many as 40 lakh new jobs by 2022 in the sector.
According to the reports, Gram Panchayats or village blocks, according to the government, would be provided with up to 1 gbps connectivity by 2020 and 10 gbps by 2022. The new policy also seeks to ensure broadband coverage to uncovered regions with every citizen to be provided with connectivity of up to 50 mbps and to create common service ducts and utility corridors in cities and national highway projects.
TRAI’s top official said, “There are multiple opportunities to create common infrastructure. Common ducts should also be implemented.”
The initiative would allow infrastructure providers to deploy a common terminal or box for optic fibre and digital TV cable with an objective to mitigate Right-of-Way issues. Telecom infrastructure, including fiberisation, according to Sharma, would be critical part of the delivery of digital services in the country.
Tag: Gram Panchayats
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TRAI to hold discussions with stakeholders on new policy goals
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Nasscom projects 730mn Net users in India
NEW DELHI: There were 391.50 million Internet subscribers as on 31 December 2016. The government has said it is expected that number of internet users will increase in the country owing to fast adoption of digital technology,.
Minister of communications Manoj Sinha told the Parliament that the National Telecom Policy-2012 envisages 600 million broadband connections by 2020 at minimum 2 Mbps download speed.
According to National Association of Software & Services Companies (NASSCOM) –Akamai report launched on 17 August 2016 regarding “The Future of Internet in India”, 730 million Internet users are anticipated in the country by 2020.
The government has allocated 965 MHz spectrum through auction in October 2016 to various telecom service providers for access services. This will enable the telecom service providers to roll out 3G and 4G services which will facilitate proliferation of high speed internet facility.
The BharatNet project is also being implemented to provide 100 Mbps broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (approximately 2,50,000) in the country by using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite media.
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Around 100,000 gram panchayats to be connected through Optic Fibre by March: Sinha
NEW DELHI: Around 100,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) will be connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to set up a network infrastructure to serve the rural masses by March next year, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said today.
He called for holistic planning rather than piecemeal approach to achieve the vision of Digital India.
Inaugurating a seminar organized by National Institute of Communication Finance on “ICT emerging technologies & USOF for Digital India” here, the Minister said there was need for innovation in this sector as India cannot afford to emulate the Developed economies due to limited resources.
He said if India will lag in catching up with emerging technologies in the coming 15 to 20 years, the very existence of the country will be at stake. He exhorted officials and other stakeholders to “Walk the Talk” for achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of Transforming India through Digital Revolution. He said it is a bounden duty to digitally empower the huge chunk of population particularly in rural areas who are still deprived of the IT revolution and said the Government alone cannot do this.
He said there is need for finding appropriate technologies for the deprived sections of society, whether it is by way network infrastructure or digital highway.
Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said the Finance Ministry is very conservative in allocation of funds under USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund). He said despite Rs 70,000 crore being available under USOF, allocation of work is less than 40 per cent.
However, he admitted that the execution of digital infrastructure projects particularly in rural areas needs to be speeded up. Deepak also announced that Rs 10,000 Crore will be spent in 2016-17, which is the highest in the history of USOF.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman R S Sharma said Public-Private Partnership is definitely the best mode for transforming India into Digitally Empowered Society and Knowledge Economy.
He said when mobile telephony made its foray into India, there were twenty million fixed telephone lines and the number remains the same even today even though the mobile subscribers have crossed the 1000 million mark.
He cautioned that the era of voice has been replaced by data and if India will lag behind in building the Digital Highway in a time bound manner, there will be problems of traffic Jam.
The two-day long seminar will deliberate on the topics like changing role of USOF, regulatory issues and its future perspective, challenges of consolidation in digital Indian initiatives, Bharat Net and road ahead, broadband proliferation by telecom service providers, unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi etc.
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Around 100,000 gram panchayats to be connected through Optic Fibre by March: Sinha
NEW DELHI: Around 100,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) will be connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to set up a network infrastructure to serve the rural masses by March next year, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said today.
He called for holistic planning rather than piecemeal approach to achieve the vision of Digital India.
Inaugurating a seminar organized by National Institute of Communication Finance on “ICT emerging technologies & USOF for Digital India” here, the Minister said there was need for innovation in this sector as India cannot afford to emulate the Developed economies due to limited resources.
He said if India will lag in catching up with emerging technologies in the coming 15 to 20 years, the very existence of the country will be at stake. He exhorted officials and other stakeholders to “Walk the Talk” for achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of Transforming India through Digital Revolution. He said it is a bounden duty to digitally empower the huge chunk of population particularly in rural areas who are still deprived of the IT revolution and said the Government alone cannot do this.
He said there is need for finding appropriate technologies for the deprived sections of society, whether it is by way network infrastructure or digital highway.
Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said the Finance Ministry is very conservative in allocation of funds under USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund). He said despite Rs 70,000 crore being available under USOF, allocation of work is less than 40 per cent.
However, he admitted that the execution of digital infrastructure projects particularly in rural areas needs to be speeded up. Deepak also announced that Rs 10,000 Crore will be spent in 2016-17, which is the highest in the history of USOF.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman R S Sharma said Public-Private Partnership is definitely the best mode for transforming India into Digitally Empowered Society and Knowledge Economy.
He said when mobile telephony made its foray into India, there were twenty million fixed telephone lines and the number remains the same even today even though the mobile subscribers have crossed the 1000 million mark.
He cautioned that the era of voice has been replaced by data and if India will lag behind in building the Digital Highway in a time bound manner, there will be problems of traffic Jam.
The two-day long seminar will deliberate on the topics like changing role of USOF, regulatory issues and its future perspective, challenges of consolidation in digital Indian initiatives, Bharat Net and road ahead, broadband proliferation by telecom service providers, unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi etc.