Government expects new telecom policy to be in place by July end: Manoj Sinha

The government on 1 May had released the draft National Telecom Policy 2018 aiming to attract investment of $100 billion in the Digital Communications sector.

Communications Minister Manoj Sinha (EPS | Parveen Negi )

NEW DELHI:A new telecom policy is likely to be in place by July 2018, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday.“I am hopeful that the Cabinet approval will come for the National Digital Communications Policy by July-end,” Sinha said at a Press conference.

The government on 1 May had released the draft National Telecom Policy 2018 aiming to attract investment of $100 billion in the Digital Communications sector by reforming the licencing and regulatory regime in the country.

It aims to provide broadband access to every household with download speed of 50 Mbps while also creating 4 million new job opportunities.On the crucial in-flight connectivity, the minister said, “With the Department of Telecom taking many progressive steps, the government hopes that it can provide in-flight connectivity within Indian airspace within a year.”

To take the process further, DoT and the Civil Aviation Ministry officials will meet within 10 days to discuss operational details of in-flight connectivity.Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said, “They will discuss on operational models and ask questions as who will be investing in infrastructure, who will be providing the services etc.”When asked how the government views consolidation in the telecom sector, which has reduced number of active players from a dozen to 3-4, Sinha said it is happening all over world and India is no different.