MUMBAI: The Minister for Communications, Law & Justice and Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the National Broadband Mission (NBM) which will aim to cover all Indian villages by 2022. The aim is to “fulfil all aspirations of the people and enable fast track growth of digital communication infrastructure”.

The vision of the NBM is to fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide, facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion and provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all. Some of the objectives of the mission which is structured with a strong emphasis on the three principles of universality, affordability and quality are:

·   Broadband access to all villages by 2022

·   Facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services for across the country and especially in rural and remote areas

·   Laying of incremental 30 lakh route km of Optical Fiber Cable and increase in tower density from 0.42 to 1.0 tower per thousand of population by 2024

·   Significantly improve quality of services for mobile and internet

·   Develop innovative implementation models for Right of Way (RoW) and to work with States/UTs for having consistent policies pertaining to expansion of digital infrastructure including for RoW approvals                 required for laying of OFC

·   Develop a Broadband Readiness Index (BRI) to measure the availability of digital communications infrastructure and conducive policy ecosystem within a State/UT.

·   Creation of a digital fibre map of the Digital Communications network and infrastructure, including Optical Fiber Cables and Towers, across the country

·   Investment from stakeholders of USD 100 billion (Rs 7 lakh crore) including Rs 70,000 crore from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

·   Address policy and regulatory changes required to accelerate the expansion and creation of digital infrastructure and services

·   Work with all stakeholders including the concerned Ministries / Departments/ Agencies, and Ministry of Finance, for enabling investments for the Mission

     Snapshot of growth in Telecom Parameters