In a bid to revolutionize India’s telecommunications industry by 2030, the draft National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2025 sets ambitious goals. It aims to double annual investments to ₹1 trillion, increase exports, create 1 million jobs, and up-skill an equal number of individuals.
Investment and Economic Growth
- The NTP 2025 targets doubling the telecom sector’s contribution to India’s GDP within five years.
- Annual investment is set to increase to ₹1 trillion, supporting infrastructure, research, and manufacturing.
- Encouragement of startups to double in number to drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
Network Infrastructure Expansion
- Focus on enhancing and expanding network infrastructure.
- Target to increase tower fiberisation from 46% to 80% by 2030.
- Aim for 90% 5G population coverage nationwide.
- Prioritization of universal connectivity, connecting all village-level institutions and providing broadband to 100 million households.
Rural Connectivity and Digital Inclusion
- Introduction of schemes under Digital Bharat Nidhi to bridge the urban-rural gap.
- Incentives for expanding broadband in rural areas and supporting smaller internet service providers for last-mile connectivity.
- Ensuring digital growth and services reach rural India.
Domestic Manufacturing and Supply Chain
- Promotion of domestic production through telecom manufacturing zones.
- Integration of infrastructure for designing and producing telecom equipment.
- Building a self-reliant supply chain to reduce import dependence and bolster the domestic industry.
Research, Innovation, and Talent Development
- Establishment of 30 advanced research labs in premier institutions to focus on emerging telecom technologies.
- Targeted sectoral R&D spending to drive innovation and produce a skilled workforce.
Security and Cybersecurity Measures
- Focus on developing secure telecom networks against quantum and classical computing threats.
- Endpoint security with indigenous solutions for detection and response.
- Utilization of AI and machine learning for cybersecurity frameworks.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Commitment to reducing the telecom sector’s carbon footprint by 30% for sustainable development.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- NTP 2025 aims to double investments in India’s telecom sector, boosting economic growth.
- Focus on expanding network infrastructure, rural connectivity, and domestic manufacturing for industry development.
- Emphasis on research, innovation, and cybersecurity to drive technological advancements.
- Commitment to sustainability by reducing the sector’s carbon footprint.
