NEW DELHI: The new telecom policy -- branded as the National Digital Communications Policy (http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/telecom/comment-indias-ntp-2018-gets-digital-makeover-but-needs-complimentary-policies-180508) -- is expected to be placed before the Indian Cabinet for approval in two weeks, a top official said on Tuesday.
"It is likely to be placed in two weeks," Telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan was quoted by news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) on the sidelines of an event.
The government has recently issued the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP), which once approved will set the road map for attracting investment of around $ 100 million in the sector and create four million new job opportunities over a period of time.
Promising rationalisation of levies such as spectrum charges to rejuvenate debt-ridden telecom sector, the proposed new telecom policy seeks to provide broadband access to all with 50 mbps speed and 5G services too amongst a host of other benefits by 2022.
It proposes to adopt "Optimal Pricing of Spectrum" to ensure sustainable and affordable access to digital communications. High spectrum price and related charges have been the main concern of telecom services segment, which is reeling under a debt of around Rs 7.8 lakh crore.
Sundararajan said that the Department of Telecom has completed inter-ministerial consultation on the new policy and is now working on some of the processes required to be fulfilled before the draft is submitted to cabinet for the approval. Earlier, the Telecom Commission(http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/telecom/ndcp-2018-net-neutrality-rules-cleared-by-telecom-commission-180712) had cleared draft policies related to the NDCP and net neutrality