Broadband Policy in India
Science & Technology › IT, Telecommunications and Computers · Topic 14.29
Broadband is high speed internet access that is always on. India defined broadband in its 2004 policy as a connection of at least 256 kilobits per second, raised to 512 kbps in 2009 and to 2 megabits per second in 2013. The National Telecom Policy of 2012 and the National Digital Communications Policy, NDCP, of 2018 set the later goals. NDCP 2018 aims at Connect India, Propel India and Secure India, with targets such as broadband for all at 50 Mbps, 40 lakh new jobs and a contribution of 8 percent of GDP from the digital sector. The National Broadband Mission, Rashtriya Broadband Abhiyaan, was launched in December 2019 and BharatNet is the main rural fibre project. The 2023 Telecommunications Act and the PM Gati Shakti plan help in right of way.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · IT, Telecommunications and Computers
At a Glance
- Policy NDCP 2018
- Missions Connect, Propel, Secure India
- Broadband Mission December 2019
- Rural fibre BharatNet
- Fund Digital Bharat Nidhi
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: IT, Telecommunications and Computers
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of spectrum policy. After the airwaves it covers the wired and wireless broadband policy that links villages with the digital economy. Previous topic: Spectrum Policy and Mobile Spectrum Management in India. Next topic: Project Brainwave and Sagar Vani System.
What Is the National Digital Communications Policy 2018?
| Mission | Goals |
|---|---|
| Connect India | Provide broadband for all at 50 Mbps, 1 Gbps to gram panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022, universal 4G, and 5G readiness |
| Propel India | Attract 100 billion dollars of investment in the digital communications sector, create 40 lakh jobs, increase the share of the sector to 8 percent of GDP by 2022, and boost domestic manufacturing |
| Secure India | Set up a data protection and privacy framework, strengthen security of networks, and create a Digital Communications Commission and a National Digital Grid |
| Earlier definitions | 256 kbps in 2004, 512 kbps in 2009 and 2 Mbps in 2013 |
| Policy history | National Telecom Policy of 1994, 1999 and 2012, then NDCP 2018 |
| Rural telephone density | A major gap compared with cities, which policy tries to close |
| Digital Communications Commission | Formed in 2018 as the apex body of DoT |
Which Programmes Deliver Broadband?
- National Broadband Mission: Rashtriya Broadband Abhiyaan, launched on 17 December 2019, to give broadband access to all villages by 2022, a target that was later extended
- BharatNet: originally National Optical Fibre Network, which aims to link all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with optical fibre, as in NOFN and Spectrum. The latest phase uses a public private model with an outlay of about Rs 1.39 lakh crore approved in 2023
- Digital Bharat Nidhi: renamed from the Universal Service Obligation Fund by the Telecommunications Act, 2023, to fund service in rural and remote areas
- Right of Way Rules, 2024: Telecommunications Right of Way Rules to speed up laying of cables and towers on public property
- Gati Shakti Sanchar: portal for permissions to lay infrastructure
- PM-WANI: public Wi-Fi hotspots, as in Networking: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Satellite broadband: licences given for satellite links to reach hard areas, as in VSAT, SIM, IMEI and WiMax Technologies
- Telecom PLI: incentive for making telecom equipment in India
What Else Should You Remember?
- Fixed and wireless broadband: fibre to the home, cable, digital subscriber line and fixed wireless access are different routes
- Mobile dominance: most Indian users reach the internet through mobile phones, and fixed broadband is much lower
- Data prices: India has some of the lowest per gigabyte prices in the world
- Speed ranking: India’s fixed broadband speed lags behind many countries, so quality is an issue
- Digital divide: rural areas, women and the poor have lower use
- Net neutrality: rules against discrimination of traffic, covered in Net Neutrality
- Common Service Centres: offer assisted internet access, as in National e-Governance Plan
- Digital literacy: PMGDISHA aims to make rural households digitally literate
- Telecom subscribers: India has well over a billion telephone connections, among the largest in the world
- TRAI role: TRAI recommended on broadband definitions, net neutrality and quality of service
- Electricity: power supply to towers and homes affects broadband
- Fibre in cities: permissions from local bodies slow rollouts
- Submarine cables: international traffic arrives by undersea cables landing at cities like Mumbai and Chennai, as in Global Internet Governance
- Data centres: domestic data centres cut delay and keep data local
- Measures of success: penetration, speed, price and quality of service
- Link to Digital India: broadband highways are a pillar of Digital India Initiative and E-Governance Programmes
- Caution: targets and outlays have been revised, so check latest figures
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Policy: NDCP 2018 missions
- Targets: 50 Mbps, 40 lakh jobs, 8 percent GDP
- Programmes: Broadband Mission, BharatNet, Digital Bharat Nidhi
- Current affairs link: BharatNet phase and Right of Way rules
- Common errors: confusing Connect India and Propel India targets or calling USOF a new fund
As an analytical point, India has cheap mobile data but weak fixed broadband and a rural gap. Fibre to villages, quicker right of way and local content can turn connectivity into real use.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Policy NDCP missions
- Programmes BharatNet
- Gaps Rural and fixed
What Came Next?
The next topic covers Project Brainwave and the Sagar Vani system. Next topic: Project Brainwave and Sagar Vani System.
Key People and Terms
- Broadband Always on high speed internet
- NDCP National Digital Communications Policy
- BharatNet Village fibre network
- DBN Digital Bharat Nidhi
- Right of way Permission to lay cables
- FTTH Fibre to the home
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- NDCP: 2018; Broadband Mission: December 2019.
- Broadband target: 50 Mbps.
- Definition: 2 Mbps since 2013.
- USOF became Digital Bharat Nidhi in 2023.
- Gram panchayats: about 2.5 lakh.
Do Not Confuse With
- NDCP and NTP 2012 Newer 2018 policy versus earlier 2012 policy
- BharatNet and NOFN Later name versus original name
- USOF and Digital Bharat Nidhi Old versus new name
Memory Hook
Connect, Propel, Secure; fifty Mbps for all; BharatNet reaches the panchayat.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for missions, targets and fund names. These points help.
- Policy NDCP
- Delivery BharatNet
- Gaps Quality
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the objectives of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 and the challenges in providing broadband to rural India.”
How to Answer
- Policy Three missions.
- Programmes BharatNet.
- Challenges Right of way, power.
- Way forward Fibre, satellites.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Digital Communications Policy 2018?
The National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 replaced the National Telecom Policy of 2012. It has three missions: Connect India, to give broadband to all, Propel India, to attract investment and jobs in digital communications, and Secure India, to protect data and networks. Its targets include 50 Mbps broadband for all and 8 percent of GDP from the digital sector.
What is the National Broadband Mission?
The National Broadband Mission, or Rashtriya Broadband Abhiyaan, was launched on 17 December 2019 by the Department of Telecommunications. Its goal is to provide broadband access to all villages, with a focus on fibre, towers, a broadband readiness index for states and easier right of way, working along with BharatNet.
What is BharatNet?
BharatNet, earlier called the National Optical Fibre Network, is a project to connect all gram panchayats in India with optical fibre so that villages can have high speed internet and services such as e-governance, telemedicine and e-learning. It is carried out by Bharat Broadband Network Limited and funded from the Digital Bharat Nidhi.
What is the Digital Bharat Nidhi?
The Digital Bharat Nidhi is the new name of the Universal Service Obligation Fund under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. It is funded by a levy on telecom operators' revenue and is used to support telecom services in rural, remote and urban areas that are underserved, including projects such as BharatNet.
How is broadband defined in India?
The minimum speed that counts as broadband in India has been raised several times: 256 kilobits per second in the 2004 policy, 512 kbps in 2009, and 2 megabits per second since 2013 under the National Telecom Policy. The 2018 policy aims for 50 Mbps for every citizen as a target.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Connect India, Propel India and Secure India are missions of NDCP 2018.
They replaced the 2012 telecom policy.
2 The National Broadband Mission was launched in 2012.
It was launched in December 2019.
3 BharatNet aims to connect gram panchayats by optical fibre.
Earlier NOFN.
4 USOF was renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi by the 2023 Act.
For rural telecom funding.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under IT, Telecommunications and Computers. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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