The National Telecom Policy -2012 (NTP - 2012).

(The photo taken from website of Shri Sunil Varma, Entreprenure)

"The policy envisions providing secure, reliable, affordable and high quality converged telecommunication services anytime, anywhere for an accelerated inclusive socio-economic development. The main thrust of the Policy is on the multiplier effect and transformational impact of such services on the overall economy."

The salient features of NTP - 2012 are:

• Increase rural teledensity from the current level of around 39 to 70 by the year 2017 and 100 by the year 2020. The Present teledensity is around 30%. 

• Repositioning of Mobile phone- as an instrument of empowerment. The mobile technology is turning out to be revolutionary. The examples of Mobile Banking of Kenya or even our own example of PDS system are pointers towards ushering this new revolution.

• Broadband –“'Broadband For All” at a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps. Coupled with Mobiles, internet can be a game changer. Just imagine, a villager having access to ticket booking, weather information, market rates and also accessing his/her bank account. 

• Domestic Manufacturing- Making India a global hub

• Convergence of Network, Services and Devices

• Liberalisation of Spectrum- any Service in any Technology

• Simplification of Licensing regime- Unified Licensing, delinking of Spectrum from License, Online real time submission and processing

• Consumer Focus - Achieve One Nation - Full Mobile Number Portability and work towards One Nation - Free Roaming

• Resale of Services

• Voice over Internet Protocol

• Cloud Computing, Next Generation Network including IPV6

While unveiling this policy, Govt reiterated that Policy is prerogative of elected government. Its very poor for the govt to reiterate what is its core activity. Nevertheless, I hope NTP-2012 will change policy paralysis in Telecom Sector. But practically not possible, atleast for this government.