May 19, 2025
The upcoming National Telecom Policy aims to double telecom product exports and generate one million new jobs by 2030
The policy seeks to raise the ICT sector’s GDP contribution from 7.8% to 11% and attract INR 1.5 lakh crore in annual telecom infrastructure investments
The government is prioritising self-reliance in telecom through local manufacturing, with the PLI scheme recording INR 80,927 crore in total sales, including INR 14,915 crore in exports by March 2025
Most of the new jobs will focus on emerging technologies such as 5G, 6G, IoT, AI, cybersecurity, big data, and quantum communications
The government is preparing to unveil the new National Telecom Policy (NTP), which includes an ambitious roadmap to double telecom product exports and ensure affordable, universal connectivity by 2030. According to officials familiar with the matter, the initiative also aims to create one million new jobs.
Currently being drafted by the Ministry of Communications in consultation with stakeholders, this policy is expected to significantly boost the ICT sector’s role in India’s economy. It targets an increase in the sector’s contribution to GDP from 7.8% to 11% by 2030 and aims to attract INR 1.5 lakh crore annually in telecom infrastructure investment.
Officials highlighted that the government remains committed to building a self-reliant telecom sector through domestic production incentives. Under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the sector recorded total sales of INR 80,927 crore as of March 31, 2025, with exports accounting for INR 14,915 crore.
The upcoming NTP will also outline the government’s plan to create one million jobs, largely centred around advanced technologies including 5G, 6G, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, and quantum communications.
Officials stated that the policy will include an enabling framework for the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. This includes satellite systems to ensure telecom services reach across the entire country.
Connectivity goals under the policy include achieving full 4G population coverage and 90% 5G coverage by 2030. The BharatNet programme is expected to deliver fibre optic connectivity to all gram panchayats and government institutions at the village level. Fixed broadband connections are to rise from 45 million to 100 million households nationwide, alongside the deployment of one million Wi-Fi hotspots.
Satellite systems, particularly non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) players like Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, and the Jio-SES partnership, are anticipated to become integral to rural and remote connectivity. The Department of Telecommunications has already granted satcom permits to Eutelsat, OneWeb, and Jio-SES, and a letter of intent has been issued to Starlink.
Source: Economic Times