National Digital Communications Policy to be discussed on July 11
By MYBRANDBOOK
The new telecom policy will focus on taking broadband to all, creating a level playing field and facilitating investments, telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan said. She further said that spectrum should not be merely considered a revenue generator but more as an enabler of digitalisation. The Department of Telecommunications plans to focus on rationalising licence, spectrum usage charges and the Universal Services Obligation Fund while also highlighting the importance of fibre connectivity to the sector’s growth.
The department released the draft of the proposed telecom policy, branded as National Digital Communications Policy 2018. It aims to attract $100 billion or about ₹6.5 lakh crore investments in the digital communications sector by 2022 with the help of reforms.
The secretary further said that the current phase of consolidation has to be done by the industry – they have to upgrade and invest in new technologies and each one has to figure out their business strategies. "Our endeavour is to provide a level playing field and an enabling an environment for growth – which is our duty – given that we are still at 30% broadband penetration. We have to go all the way to 100%," she said.
The secretary further promises rationalisation of levies such as spectrum charges to rejuvenate the debt-ridden telecom sector. The proposed telecom policy seeks to provide broadband access to all with 50 mbps speed, 5G services and create 40 lakh new jobs by 2022.
Under the new policy, the government plans to price spectrum optimally, review levies such as licence fee and spectrum usage charges as well as M&A rules to ease exits, while taking a fresh look at spectrum sharing, leasing and trading guidelines.
It proposes to adopt “Optimal Pricing of Spectrum” to ensure sustainable and affordable access to digital communications. High spectrum price and related charges have been the main concern of the telecom services segment, which is reeling under a debt of around ₹7.8 lakh crore.
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