Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reveals draft National Telecom Policy 2025 for public feedback
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has recently released the draft National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25) for public opinion, with the objective of transforming India into a global telecom leader and a telecom product nation driven by innovation. This comprehensive policy aims to ensure inclusive, affordable, secure, and sustainable connectivity nationwide by 2030.
Key strategies outlined in NTP-25 include:
Connectivity Expansion - Achieve universal 4G coverage and 90% population coverage of 5G by 2030. - Increase fiberization of telecom towers to 80%. - Enable fiber connectivity to all Gram Panchayats. - Provide 100 million fixed broadband connections to households.
Domestic Manufacturing and Innovation - Boost domestic telecom manufacturing output by 150%. - Achieve 50% import substitution in telecom products. - Establish 30 new research labs and an Indian Institute of Telecom Technology. - Aim to position India among the top 10 global R&D hubs in emerging telecom technologies and secure a 10% share of global 6G intellectual property rights.
Employment and Economic Growth - Double annual investment in the telecom sector to ₹1 trillion. - Double the sector’s GDP contribution. - Create 1 million new jobs. - Upskill an equal number of individuals to meet future demands.
Technology and Security - Harness emerging technologies like 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, quantum communications, satellite networks, and blockchain. - Develop quantum-resistant networks. - Implement biometric-based user verification. - Deploy AI-powered cyber threat monitoring. - Create a national SafeNet infrastructure to protect core telecom systems.
Digital Inclusion and Rural Connectivity - Bridge the digital divide by expanding fixed-line broadband and last-mile connectivity in rural areas. - Ensure all village-level institutions are connected.
Sustainability and Green Telecom - Promote greener telecom initiatives to ensure environmental sustainability alongside technological growth.
These integrated strategies under six strategic missions aim to establish India as a digitally empowered society and a globally competitive economy by 2030. The department has invited public comments on the policy within 21 days from the date the circular was issued.
In addition, the NTP-25 supports sustainable growth for emerging use cases across smart cities, industry 4.0, rural broadband, emergency response, and digital governance. It also aims to increase the number of telecommunications startups, back 500 telecom-tech start-ups and MSMEs, and position India as the manufacturer of choice for telecom products worldwide with a comprehensive roadmap for investment.
The policy envisions India as the world's largest consumer of telecom services and a leading exporter of indigenous telecom technology under the "Bharat - a telecom product nation" banner. With the launch of NTP-25, India is taking significant strides towards becoming a global leader in the telecom sector.
The Department of Telecom's National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25) intends to position India as a global leader in telecom by 2030, not only focusing on providing comprehensive connectivity but also boosting domestic technology manufacturing and innovation. In line with this, the policy aims to achieve 50% import substitution in telecom products, establish 30 new research labs, and position India among the top 10 global R&D hubs in emerging telecom technologies, such as 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, and quantum communications.
Moreover, the NTP-25 aims to elevate India's role in the global finance sector by doubling annual investments in the telecom sector to ₹1 trillion and doubling the sector's contribution to the country's GDP. This policy also encourages the growth of telecommunications startups and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the realm of telecom technology.
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