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Ministry of Telecommunication presented a list of achievements and milestones that were achieved during 2018. The main highlights of the works of telecom ministry under Union Minister of Telecom Mr. Manoj Sinha have listed out a long list of actions taken but just to summarise some, SMEStreet shortlisted the below-mentioned highlights. Here is the list:
- The ministry reported six-fold increase in Government spending on telecommunications infrastructure and services in the country – from Rs. 9,900 crores between 2009-14, to Rs. 60,000 crores (actual + planned) between 2014-19
- Tariff reductions benefiting consumers across the country:
- Average voice tariff declined by 67% – from an average per minute tariff of 51 paise in June 2014 to 11 paise in June 2018
- Average data tariff declined by 96% - from Rs. 269 per GB in 2014, to Rs. 12 per GB in June 2018
- Restoring the trust between Government and Citizens through a smooth and transparent auction of spectrum in 2015 and 2016 – more than 1382 MHz sold, realising an upfront payment of approximately Rs. 65,000 crores
- For the spectrum auction of October, 2016, DoT received an Excellence Award from CVC in November 2017, for “Transparency in e-auction of spectrum in 2016”
- Telecom service providers now have sufficient spectrum available to offer their sevices; the regime of spectrum shortage is a thing of the past
- Under the BharatNet project, which is expected to trigger the era of Broadband in rural India, nearly 50% of the total 2.5 Lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country have been connected through high-speed OFC network by October 2018, as compared to 59 GPs in June 2014; plan to complete the remaining GPs by March 2019
- Network for Spectrum (NFS) project for Defence – project approved in July 2012; no cable laid until May 2014; 51,000 km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laid in the last 4 years
- Under BharatNet and NFS projects, OFC laid at a peak rate of 800 km per day, with an average of more than 200 km per day – a record of sorts
- As a result of its’ role in the BharatNet project, ITI Ltd. was able to report a net profit of Rs. 102 crores (without grants) for the year 2017-18
- Proactive engagement, planning, and investment to leverage new technologies for the welfare of citizens – High-Level Forum (HLF) for 5G India set up which submitted its report in August 2018; 5G test beds established through Industry-Academia partnership and government support; 5G field trials to be conducted over the next 12 months
- Highlights in Figures
- Increase in overall tele-density in the country – from 75% in June 2014 to 93% in March 2018, adding 305 million new subscribers
- Mobile Internet subscriptions more than doubled – from 233 Million in March 2014 to 491 Million in June 2018
- Over 107% increase in internet coverage – from 251 million users in June 2014 to 512 million in June 2018
- Number of mobile Base Transceiver Stations (BTS)more than doubled – from 7.9 lakh in May 2014 to more than20 lakh in May 2018
- Country-wide OFCcoverage doubled – from 7 lakh km in May 2014 to 14 lakh km in May 2018
- Average mobile data usage per subscriber grew 51 times – from 62 MB per month to 3.2 GB per month
- Cheapest data tariff globally – from Rs. 300 per GB in 2014 to Rs. 12 per GB in June 2018, tariff reduction of 96%
- Highest mobile data consumption globally at 3.4 Billion GB per month
- Seven times growth in broadband access – from 61 million subscribers in March 2014, to 447 million subscribers in June 2018
- Digital payment transactions through mobile grew four times– from 168 million in November 2016 to 600 million now
- Five times jump in FDI inflows in Telecom Sector – from USD 1.3 billion in 2015-16, to USD 6.2 billion in 2017-18
- Connecting the Unconnectedareas in the country:
- Left-Wing Extremism Affected Areas – 2335 mobile towers installed in Phase I, at a total outlay of Rs. 4,781 crores; 4072 towers approved for installation in Phase II, with a total outlay of Rs. 7,330 crores
- Biggest ever Telecom Spend in the North-East Region –Ongoing projects with a total outlay of more than Rs. 10,800 crores, connecting border areas, highways, and unconnected villages
- Submarine cable connectivity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in addition to strengthening connectivity within the islands and in Lakshadweep – at an outlay of Rs. 2,250 crores
- Extensive expansion of the Wi-Fi eco-system in rural areas,with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crores – 25,000 hot-spots by BSNL in rural exchanges, 7,000 hot-spots (e-Choupals) by Common Service Centres (CSCs); Additional 1 million Hotspots planned by March 2019
- Key reforms to facilitate the operation of a Robust, Competitive, and Sustainable Telecom Sector:
- Spectrum sharing and trading allowed – to boost competition
- Spectrum harmonisation – resulting in freeing up spectrum for auction
- Sharing of passive (e.g., fibre, towers) and active (e.g., BTS) infrastructure
- Deferred Payment Liabilities – to reduce financial stress in the sector
- Easing of Right of Way (RoW) Rules and Charges – Ease of Doing Business
- Full mobile number portability
- Virtual Network Operators (VNO) license introduced – for effective infrastructure utilisation
- Input credit for VNO licensees allowed to ease tax burden
- The National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018 – summarises our Aspirations and Determination:
- Missions – NDCP 2018
- Connect India – Universal broadband coverage at 50 Mbps
- Propel India – Attracting investments worth USD 100 Billion
- Secure India – A strong, flexible, and robust communications infrastructure and data protection regime
- Objectives – NDCP 2018
- Providing Broadband to all by 2022
- Adding 4 million jobs in the sector
- Digital Communications sector to grow to 8% of India’s GDP by 2022 (present 6%)
- To bring India tothe top 50 rank(from present 134) in the ICT Development Index of the International Telecom Union
- Net positive international trade in the sector – through increased local manufacturing and exports, and lower imports
- Ensuring Digital Sovereignty of the country
- Missions – NDCP 2018