Source:- PIB
By: 1. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Adviser in DoT and an ITS officer of the 1984 batch.
2. Hari Ranjan Rao, Joint Secretary in DoT and an IAS officer ( MP cadre) of the 1994 batch.
National Infrastructure Master Plan (NMP) called PM GatiShakti, was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on Independence Day. It proposes to integrate all utilities and infrastructure planning across sectors such as highways, railways, aviation, gas, power transmission and renewable energy under a single unified vision. The single integrated platform will provide spatial visibility of physical linkages to promote comprehensive and integrated multi-modal national network of transportation and logistics with the aim to enhance ease of living, ease of doing business, minimize disruptions and expedite cost efficient completion of works. NMP will boost economic growth, attracting foreign investments and enhance the country’s global competitiveness thereby enabling smooth transportation of goods, people and services and creating employment opportunities. With launch of the Gati Shakti and onset of a more holistic approach towards planning for utilities and infrastructure, our country is well poised to take another giant stride towards development and evolving into a $5 trillion economy.
Digital Connectivity is a key factor for holistic growth across sectors. Enabling Broadband connectivity across the country is essential to bridge the Digital divide between rural-urban and rich-poor and to promote e-governance, transparency, financial inclusion and ease of doing business.
It leads to socio-economic development of citizens. As Broadband connectivity is a key requirement across all infrastructure sectors, the National Digital Communications Policy – 2018 (NDCP-2018) recognizes digital communications infrastructure and services as key enablers and critical determinants of India’s growth and well-being.
One of the objectives of NDCP-18 is to provide ‘Broadband for All’ so that the resulting benefits of wide-spread, equitable and inclusive growth are enjoyed by all. The policy aims to empower citizens by effectively bridging the Digital Divide. Accordingly, in order to operationalize ‘Broadband for All’, “National Broadband Mission” was launched by the Government on 17th December 2019 with a vision to enable fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, to bridge the Digital Divide for digital empowerment and inclusion, and to provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all.
- The National Broadband Mission aims to –
a) facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services for growth and development throughout the country and especially in rural and remote areas
b) address policy and regulatory changes required to accelerate the expansion and creation of digital infrastructure and services
c) create a digital fiber map of the Digital Communications network and infrastructure, including Optical Fiber Cables and Towers, across the country
d) work with all stakeholders including the concerned Ministries/ Departments/
Agencies, and Ministry of Finance, for enabling investments for the Mission
e) work with the Department of Space, to make available adequate resources required for extending connectivity to far flung areas of country through satellite media
f) encourage and promote adoption of innovative technologies for proliferation of broadband especially by the domestic industry
g) seek cooperation from concerned stakeholders by developing innovative implementation models for Right of Way (RoW)
h) work with States/UTs for having consistent policies pertaining to expansion of digital infrastructure including for RoW approvals required for laying of OFC
i) develop a Broadband Readiness Index (BRI) to measure the availability of digital communications infrastructure and conducive policy ecosystem within a State/UT.
j) promote direct and indirect employment as a result of development of Digital Communications infrastructure.
3.Achievements made so far under the Mission are as under: –
a) 28 States/Union territorieshave so far largely aligned their Right of Way (RoW) Policy with Indian Telegraph RoW Rules, 2016. Remaining States/UTs are being pursued for the requisite alignment.
b) As envisaged in the Mission, all States/UTs have formed their State Broadband Committee for effective implementation of the mission and proliferation of broadband in the States/UTs.
c) BharatNet project is being implemented to connect all 6 lakh villages of the country with Optical Fiber Cable (OFC). Under this project, so far, around 5.48 lakh Kms OFC has been laid, around 1.65 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service ready (On OFC and Satellite). Further, by utilizing the Bharatnet Network, Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed in around 1.04 Lakh Gram Panchayats and around 5.14 Lakh Fiber FTTH connections have been provided.
d) Prime Minister Wireless Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme has been launched for proliferation of Broadband across the country. Approximately 49,000 PM-WANI Access Points have been deployed under this scheme so far.
e) Around 98% of the population of India has been covered by 3G/4G mobile network, including coverage in 94% inhabited villages.There are a number of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) schemes for providing mobile connectivity in uncovered areas such as Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North East Region to connect about 5600 villages through installation of 4404 mobile tower sites, 2542 towers of 4G under LWE-II scheme, 4G mobile connectivity in 354 uncovered villages in Ladakh and Kargil, Border areas and other priority areas, 4G mobile connectivity covering 502 uncovered villages in 24 Aspirational districts4G mobile connectivity in 85 uncovered villages and along NH in Andman& Nicobar Islands.
f) More than 6.78 lakh mobile towers have been installed across the country. 34% of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been fiberized.
g) Submarine OFC connectivity between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been commissioned to provide enhanced telecom connectivity to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
h) The submarine optical fiber connectivity has also been planned between
Mainland India(Kochi) and Lakshdweep Islands by laying 1891 Km OFC. After finalizing the tender, work order has been placed for project implementation. The project is likely to be completed by May, 2023.
i) As on 31st March 2021, at pan India level, the number of Broadband subscribers has reached approx. 778 million, the number of Internet Subscribers (per 100 population) has reached approx 60.7and the Average Wireless Data Usage per wireless data subscriber per month has reached 12.33 GB.
- Multi -Sectoral Impact: The economic impacts of broadband connectivity are linked to various sectoral initiatives like agriculture, education, health, financial and Government services as depicted in the diagram. High speed ubiquitous broadband internet connectivity is a critical enabler for digital ecosystems that are necessary components of programmes aimed at development, economic transformation and income growth.
(Multisectoral impact of connectivity)
Source: USAID and Intellecap: “Investing to Connect: A Framework for Assessing the Commercial Opportunity and Social Impact of Mobile and Internet Connectivity”, 2019. https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/opb/pol/S-POL-BROADBAND.20-2019-PDF-E.pdf (pp 15)
