On July 23, India’s Ministry of Communications released the National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25) draft that lays out ambitious goals to establish the country as a telecom technology leader in the world by 2030.
Currently India’s telecom policy is open for public review, sets targets like universal 4G, 90% 5G population coverage, fixed broadband to 100 million homes, and one million fresh industry jobs.
A “vision for India’s digital future that transforms,” the white paper calls for a multi-dimensional agenda of infrastructure development, domestic manufacturing, skill building, and sustainability.
“NTP-25 reiterates the country’s strategic thrust towards telecommunications as a cornerstone of its economic development, social empowerment, and technological innovation,” declares the telecom expense policy enforcement.
The universal 4G coverage policy taps into the success of the 2018 National Digital Communications Policy and addresses emerging technologies like 6G, AI, IoT, satellite networks, and blockchain. It aims to upskill an additional one million workers for the digital economy.
Innovation, Self-Reliance, and Telecom Equipment Manufacturing
Indigenous innovation is one of the National Telecom Policy 2025 objecives. India seeks to position itself among the world’s top 10 telecommunications R&D centers, with emphasis on 10% intellectual property rights in 6G issues. The policy advocates setting up 10 Centres of Excellence, positioning Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) as a global research center, and nurturing 500 telecom startups and (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). An innovation-led Section 8 company will also be established as a satellite internet policy.
To spur telecom tower infrastructure indigenization, the government is targeting 150% growth in domestic telecom manufacturing and 50% import replacement. Planned initiatives are a dedicated Telecom Manufacturing Zone, 30 research labs, and a new Indian Institute of Telecom Technology (IIT2) to support talent streams.
Security and green resilience are also central to the private 5G networks plan. Biometric-based user authentication, top-level cybersecurity audit, and creating a National Telecom SafeNet are mandated by the policy. For sustainability, NTP-25 vows to cut the sector’s carbon footprint by 30%, raising renewable energy percentage to 30% of telecom towers, and getting the industry into the Indian Carbon Market.
Rollout of infrastructure will be accelerated by the proposed “Digital Bharat Nidhi” for offering connectivity to rural India, 1 million government Wi-Fi hotspots, and simplification of rules of spectrum VoIP regulation licensing. Additionally, timelines for telecom grievances will be cut by half, and compliance procedures will be simplified.
By driving Indian technologies to a minimum of 10 countries and being a member of its “Vishwabandhu” (universal brotherhood) vision, National Telecom Policy 25 aims to make India not only a telecom consumer protection but a global exporter of next-generation technologies.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Telecom sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.