(Rptg, correcting day in Para 1, line 1)
New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) The Government on Wednesday said the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 would attract 100 million dollars investment in the digital communications sector and provide universal broadband connectivity to 50 Mbps to every citizen of the country.
Under the new Cabinet-approved policy, the Government would create four million additional jobs in the sector and would therefore increase its contribution in India’s GDP to 8 per cent from 6 per cent in 2017, Union Communications Minister Manoj Sinha told a press conference here.
“The new policy will aim India to make a digital empowered economy. It will propel the country to the top 50 nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017,” Mr Sinha added.
The new policy was approved by the Cabinet, held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cabinet also re-designated the Telecom Commission as the Digital Communication Commission, he said.
The Minister said the GDP would be increased by 3.3 per cent due to 10 per cent rise in Internet traffic. They would also bridge the trade deficit of 17 billion dollars as the Government has to import 20 million in the sector.
The new policy divided its missions into three baskets – Connect India, Propel India and Secure India. Under the Connect India, they would provide between 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps connection to educational institutions and other development systems.
The Minister said they has also set the target to provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022 and ensure connectivity to all uncovered areas.
Under the second category of Propel India, they would also train one million manpower for building new age skill, expand IoT ecosystem to 5 billion connected devices.
Under the 'Secure India', the principle of net neutrality would be followed. The policy would also establish a comprehensive data protection regime for digital communications that safeguards the privacy, autonomy and choice of individuals.
Asked about timeline, Mr Sinha said the policy results will be started seen within one year.
The NDCP, 2018 would replace the existing National Telecom Policy 2012 to cater to the modern needs of the digital communications sector of the country.
UNI SW SHK1829