The draft National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 aims to attract investment of $100 billion in the digital communications sector
The telecom sector has received foreign direct investment (FDI) of $6.2 billion in 2017-18, a five-fold jump in the last three years.
However, the telecom sector had received FDI of $1.3 billion in 2015-16.
"India needs massive investment in developing newer technologies which are accessible and affordable," telecom minister Manoj Sinha said at a seminar on Tuesday.
The draft National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 aims to attract investment of $100 billion in the digital communications sector.
"We plan to launch commercial 5G networks by the year 2020 which will provide a big opportunity for investing in the newer emerging technologies like 5G, AI, IoT, Data analytics etc," the minister said.
Aruna Sundararajan, secretary (Telecom) said the foreign investment is necessary not only to supplement domestic capital but also to secure scientific, technical and industrial knowledge.
"The new policy will be a platform for convergence of all the stakeholders, where we will be working with growth-oriented investment perspective, rather than with fiscal perspective alone," Sundararajan said.
Sinha also said that during the last few years, the telecom sector has witnessed some upheavals but a consolidation in the sector will strengthen it. Many steps have been taken to promote the ease of doing business and to give relief to the sector.
Since the entry of Reliance Jio in the industry, the telecom market is reduced to three private players – Airtel, Vodafone Idea, RJio plus one telecom PSU BSNL/MTNL as it triggered a consolidation spree. Vodafone India and Idea Cellular have merged to create the biggest telecom player while Telenor has exited the Indian market. Aircel has filed for bankruptcy and Rcom closed down its wireless services last year with a decision to focus only on enterprise and underground sea cable business.
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