NATIONAL DIGITAL COMMUNICATION POLICY 2018

The National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018 was introduced by the Government of India with the aim of transforming the country’s digital communications landscape and aligning it with global standards. The policy recognizes the critical role of communications infrastructure and services in the development of the economy and aims to provide universal, affordable, and quality digital connectivity to every citizen.

The NDCP 2018 replaces the National Telecom Policy 2012, addressing the rapid advancements in technology, increased data consumption, and the emergence of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other digital technologies.

Vision and Objectives of NDCP 2018:

The vision of NDCP 2018 is to create a robust digital communications infrastructure that serves as the backbone of India’s economy and societal progress. The primary objectives include:

1. Broadband for All: Ensuring universal access to broadband connectivity at high speeds for all citizens, including rural areas.
2. Secure and Reliable Digital Infrastructure: Building a secure and resilient communications network to support emerging technologies and ensure national security.
3. Affordable Access: Making digital communications affordable for all sections of society, ensuring that the benefits of digital connectivity are universally shared.
4. Maximizing Socio-Economic Impact: Leveraging digital communications for the socio-economic development of the country, including education, healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities.

Key Targets of NDCP 2018:

1. Broadband Coverage:
   • Provide broadband access to all individuals, particularly in rural areas, and ensure every citizen has access to internet connectivity.
   • A specific target is to provide broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen by 2022.
2. Fiber Optic Connectivity:
   • Deploy over 5 million km of fiber optic cables across India to improve connectivity.
   • Ensure that 1 Gbps connectivity is available to all Gram Panchayats (village councils) by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022.
3. Increase Telecom Density:
   • Achieve 55% rural telecom density and 100% urban telecom density by 2022.
4. Universal Digital Literacy:
   • Promote digital literacy to at least one individual per household by 2022, ensuring that everyone can benefit from digital services and participate in the digital economy.
5. Support for Emerging Technologies:
   • Facilitate the deployment of 5G networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics, and other next-generation technologies.
   • Create a digital ecosystem that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
6. Attract Investments:
   • Attract investments of approximately $100 billion into the digital communications sector by 2022 to expand and modernize the telecommunications infrastructure.
7. Create Jobs:
   • Create 4 million additional jobs in the digital communications sector through network expansion, service provision, and the growth of ancillary industries.

Pillars of NDCP 2018:

NDCP 2018 is structured around three key missions:

1. Connect India: This mission aims to create a robust digital communications infrastructure to connect all individuals, households, enterprises, and institutions across the country.

Key components include:

1. Expanding broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved areas.
2. Improving connectivity in remote and hilly regions, islands, and border areas.
3. Rolling out a National Broadband Mission to enable affordable and high-speed broadband across the country.
4. Enhancing the deployment of fiber optics to provide high-speed internet and improve backhaul capacity for future networks like 5G.
5. Propel India: This mission focuses on building a secure, sustainable, and innovative digital ecosystem to empower the Indian economy.

Key components include:

2. Enabling the transition to next-generation technologies like 5G, AI, IoT, and Blockchain.
3. Enhancing research and development (R&D) in digital technologies and encouraging the creation of local solutions through startups and innovation hubs.
4. Ensuring spectrum availability and optimizing its usage for the rapid deployment of advanced communication networks.
5. Providing regulatory support for the development of new technologies and innovative services.
6. Promoting green telecommunications by encouraging the adoption of energy-efficient technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of the digital infrastructure.
7. Secure India: This mission ensures the creation of a robust and resilient communication infrastructure to safeguard national security, user privacy, and data protection.

Key components include:

3. Strengthening the security of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and preventing cyber threats.
4. Ensuring the protection of user data and privacy by implementing data protection laws and regulatory frameworks.
5. Promoting digital trust by building a reliable and resilient network that can withstand cyber-attacks, natural disasters, and other disruptions.
6. Developing a national strategy for cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data from cyber threats.

Key Initiatives and Programs under NDCP 2018:

1. BharatNet:
   • BharatNet is a key initiative under the NDCP 2018, aimed at providing fiber-based broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (village councils) in India. The goal is to extend internet access to rural areas, enabling them to benefit from e-governance, e-health, e-education, and other digital services.
   • Under BharatNet, high-speed fiber optic cables are being laid across India, particularly in rural and underserved areas, connecting them to the national communications network.
2. Smart Cities Mission:
   • NDCP 2018 aligns with the Smart Cities Mission, which aims to leverage digital communications to create smart and sustainable cities. High-speed broadband, public Wi-Fi, IoT-enabled infrastructure, and digital governance platforms are key components of smart cities.
   • Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Pune are examples of cities that have implemented smart solutions like smart lighting, intelligent traffic management systems, and public Wi-Fi to improve urban living.
3. Public Wi-Fi Hotspots:
   • The NDCP 2018 encourages the deployment of public Wi-Fi hotspots in urban and rural areas to provide affordable internet access to the general population.
   • Under the PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme, the government has taken steps to promote the expansion of public Wi-Fi networks by simplifying licensing requirements and encouraging private sector participation.
4. 5G Rollout:
   • A major focus of NDCP 2018 is the rollout of 5G networks. The policy lays the foundation for the rapid deployment of 5G technology, which promises faster data speeds, low latency, and support for IoT applications.
   • Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have been at the forefront of 5G trials in India, with the aim of deploying commercial 5G services to both urban and rural areas.
5. Telecom Sector Reforms:
   • To encourage investments in the sector, NDCP 2018 introduces measures to simplify spectrum allocation, rationalize license fees, and improve the regulatory framework for telecommunications operators.
   • The policy also promotes infrastructure sharing to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of network deployment.

Example: BharatNet – Expanding Digital Connectivity to Rural India

BharatNet is one of the flagship programs under NDCP 2018, aimed at bridging the digital divide between urban and rural India. This project involves laying fiber optic cables to provide high-speed broadband access to 250,000 Gram Panchayats (village councils) across India. BharatNet is critical to achieving the vision of “Broadband for All” as outlined in NDCP 2018.

Pre-BharatNet Scenario:

• Before BharatNet, rural areas in India lacked reliable internet connectivity. This limited access to critical services like online education, healthcare, e-governance, and financial inclusion for the rural population.

Post-BharatNet Impact:

1. Broadband Penetration:
   • With the rollout of BharatNet, millions of rural citizens now have access to high-speed broadband. This has transformed villages by enabling access to government services through Common Service Centers (CSCs), which act as digital touchpoints for services like banking, healthcare, and agriculture advisories.
2. Digital Literacy:
   • BharatNet has helped in expanding digital literacy in rural India. Through government programs, citizens are trained to use the internet, access e-services, and participate in the digital economy.
3. Education and Healthcare:
   • High-speed internet provided through BharatNet has enabled e-learning platforms and telemedicine services to reach rural students and patients. This is particularly crucial in regions with limited physical access to schools and healthcare facilities.
4. Agricultural Benefits:
   • Farmers in rural areas now have access to real-time information on crop prices, weather forecasts, and government schemes through digital platforms, improving productivity and reducing information asymmetry.

Challenges in NDCP 2018 Implementation:

1. Infrastructure Bottlenecks:
   • While the policy aims to rapidly expand broadband infrastructure, many regions still face delays in the deployment of fiber optic cables, especially in remote and difficult-to-access areas like Northeast India and hilly regions.
2. Spectrum Availability:
   • Ensuring sufficient spectrum availability for emerging technologies like 5G is critical. However, spectrum allocation policies need to be more streamlined to meet the growing demand for data and wireless services.
3. Affordability:
   • Despite efforts to make broadband affordable, there are still challenges in reducing the cost of data and improving access to affordable smartphones and digital devices for the economically weaker sections of society.

Conclusion:

The National Digital Communications Policy 2018 is a forward-looking framework designed to create a robust and inclusive digital communications infrastructure. Through initiatives like BharatNet, 5G rollout, and public Wi-Fi, the policy is driving digital connectivity across India, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for citizens. However, challenges in implementation, especially in rural and remote areas, need to be addressed to fully realize the policy’s vision of universal digital connectivity.