In News:

• The Government of India has released the Draft National Telecom Policy 2025 through the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), marking a significant update after the 2018 National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP).
• The new draft aims to transform India into a “telecom product nation” through indigenous innovation, sustainable connectivity, and digital inclusion, aligning with broader national goals like Digital India, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Vision and Strategic Objectives

• The policy envisions universal, meaningful, secure, and sustainable connectivity for all citizens while simultaneously boosting domestic innovation and employment.
• It reflects a shift from viewing telecom as a service enabler to treating it as a critical infrastructure sector capable of driving economic growth and strategic autonomy.

Key Focus Areas

1. Universal Connectivity
   • Target of 100% 4G coverage and 90% 5G coverage by 2030.
   • Increase fiber-connected towers from 46% to 80% to enhance service quality.
   • Establish 1 million new public Wi-Fi hotspots.
   • Promote satellite internet to bridge digital divides in remote and border areas.
2. Employment and Skilling
   • Create 10 lakh new jobs in the telecom sector.
   • Reskill another 10 lakh existing workers, addressing the evolving demands of the digital economy.
3. Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing
   • Target a 150% increase in domestic telecom manufacturing by 2030.
   • Establish Telecom Manufacturing Zones (TMZs) with integrated infrastructure.
   • Support R&D in next-generation technologies, including 6G.
   • Include telecom R&D under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to encourage private sector investment.
4. Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
   • Deploy AI-based tools for proactive cyber threat detection and response.
   • Counter generative AI-based attacks and enhance cross-border telecom signal surveillance.
   • Use AI-powered chatbots for unified grievance redressal systems.
5. Green Telecom and Circular Economy
   • Reduce the sector’s carbon emissions by 30%.
   • Promote recycling and reuse of telecom equipment to encourage circular economy practices.
6. Technological Innovations
   • Promote quantum-secure communications to strengthen network security.
   • Enable mobile number-based identity verification for secure digital transactions.
   • The removal of lawful interception provisions suggests a nuanced approach balancing security and privacy.

Comparative Outlook: 2018 NDCP vs. 2025 Draft Policy

• The 2018 policy had a broader digital communications focus; the 2025 draft is telecom-specific and more targeted.
• Job creation targets are more realistic (10 lakh vs. 40 lakh), reflecting the refined sectoral scope.
• AI, sustainability, and domestic manufacturing receive significantly enhanced attention in the 2025 draft.
• The shift from 10 million to 1 million Wi-Fi hotspot target indicates a pragmatic policy recalibration.

Conclusion

The Draft National Telecom Policy 2025 is a timely and ambitious framework aimed at ensuring digital sovereignty, innovation-driven growth, and inclusive access. By focusing on indigenous technology, sustainable infrastructure, and cybersecurity, it has the potential to position India as a global leader in next-generation telecommunications, including 6G and quantum tech. Effective implementation and coordination with state and private stakeholders will be key to translating this vision into ground reality.