NTP-25: Can ambition meet implementation reality?

India's draft telecom policy sets big goals, but its success hinges on lessons from NDCP 2018 and breaking free from past patterns of under-delivery and delays.

- BY JAIDEEP GHOSH

India's draft National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25) outlines an ambitious roadmap to transform the country into a global telecommunications leader. Released recently for public consultation, the policy positions telecommunications as a foundational pillar of economic growth, social empowerment, industrial self-reliance, and technological advancement.

Designed to replace the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, NTP-25 seeks to address the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities presented by next-generation technologies. Its vision is structured around six strategic missions, each with bold targets for 2030 that collectively aim to reshape India's digital future.

The scope of the policy is broad, covering everything from digital infrastructure to sustainability. By 2030, it targets 90% 5G coverage and 100% 4G penetration, with 80% of telecom towers fibre-connected. The policy envisions 100 million broadband-connected homes and one million public WiFi hotspot deployments. To stimulate the economy, it proposes attracting Rs 1 trillion in annual telecom investment and creating one million new jobs, along with reskilling another million workers. It also aims to double exports from the sector.

On the manufacturing front, the policy sets out to boost telecom production by 150%, reduce imports by half, support startups, and establish dedicated telecom manufacturing zones. For technological leadership, it prioritises artificial intelligence (Al), internet of things (IoT), 6G, satellite, and quantum communications, and aspires to capture 10% of global intellectual property in 6G. Other missions include strengthening network trust through SafeNet infrastructure, biometric and IMEI validation, and equipment certification. Environmentally, the policy targets a 30% reduction in sectoral carbon emissions, greater reliance on renewable energy, and climate-resilient networks.