ET NOW EXCLUSIVE: Govt to prioritise 5G auctions along with broadband connectivity across India

After the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi last week gave a nod to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on 5G auctions, the government is in full throttle mode. ET Now has exclusively learned from sources that DoT is not only focusing on 5G, but the focus is also on expanding broadband connectivity in India.
Govt to prioritise 5G auctions along with broadband connectivity across India

Govt to prioritise 5G auctions along with broadband connectivity across India

Photo : PTI
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Ashwini Vaishnaw in a few weeks will chair the meeting of the Governing Council of the National Broadband Mission.
  • The government envisions to connect all villages with 100 percent high-speed optical fibre broadband connectivity by 2025.
  • The Telecom Minister to likely also review the status of the GatiShakti Sanchar Portal which is the Single Window Clearance Right Of Way (RoW) portal.
(By Daanish Anand)
New Delhi: After the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi last week gave a nod to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on 5G auctions, the government is in full throttle mode. ET Now has exclusively learned from sources that DoT is not only focusing on 5G, but the focus is also on expanding broadband connectivity in India.
Sources have told ET Now that Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a few weeks will chair the meeting of the Governing Council of the National Broadband Mission. The Minister will review the progress of broadband connectivity across the country and especially in rural areas. The government envisions to connect all villages with 100 percent high-speed optical fibre broadband connectivity by 2025.
The Telecom Minister to likely also review the status of the GatiShakti Sanchar Portal which is the Single Window Clearance Right Of Way (RoW) portal. Faster RoW application clearances will pave the way for coordination of Centre, states and municipalities for faster setting up of mobile towers.
In the meeting which is expected to happen at the end of June or in the first week of July, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will also set targets to increase digitisation across India. Sources also told ET Now that, for a smooth roll out of 5G, the government is aiming to fiberise 55% of mobile towers in India.
As per Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's April subscribers' data, the share of urban and rural subscribers in broadband are 92.27 percent and 7.73 percent. In the month of April, rural subscription base declined by 11,469 subscriptions while the industry added 3,20,961 subscribers. There are currently 17,92,482 rural Broadband subscribers across the country.
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