National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 -
ECONOMY
NEWS: The
Department of Telecommunications launched the vision document for the National
Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0.
- It aims to build upon the foundation
laid by NBM 1.0 (2019-2024).
WHAT’S IN
THE NEWS?
Broadband
Connectivity in India
- In 2023,
India had 83.22 crore broadband connections, with 79.98 crore
being wireless and 3.23 crore being wireline.
- India
witnessed a 200% increase in internet subscriptions
in rural areas and a 158% increase in urban
areas between 2015 and 2021.
- The NBM
1.0 accelerated growth in digital infrastructure, especially in
rural areas, bridging the digital divide.
Broadband
connection types
- Wired
broadband: Broadband
delivered through optical fiber cables.
- Wireless
broadband: Broadband
delivered through radio links.
- Digital
Subscriber Line (DSL): Broadband
delivered through copper lines.
NBM 2.0:
Vision and Objectives
- The
new phase of the National Broadband Mission builds on NBM 1.0 and sets
ambitious goals for 2030 to ensure affordable and reliable broadband
access across India.
- Key
Objectives:
- Expand Optical Fiber Connectivity: Extend Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) to 2.70
lakh villages by 2030, from around 50,000 villages currently.
- Maintain
95% uptime for OFC networks.
- Anchor Institution Connectivity: Provide broadband to 90% of anchor
institutions such as schools, PHCs, Anganwadi Centers, and Panchayat
offices.
- Enhanced Broadband Speeds: Increase the national average
fixed broadband download speed to a minimum of 100 Mbps by 2030.
- 5G Rollout and 6G Preparedness: Facilitate the nationwide rollout
of 5G networks while laying the groundwork for future 6G technologies.
- Leverage Power Sector
Infrastructure: Utilize
Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) from the power sector to boost connectivity,
particularly for critical situations like disasters, wars, and
emergencies.
NBM 2.0
Impact
- Digital
Inclusion: Bridge
the digital divide, especially in rural and underserved areas, ensuring
equitable access to digital resources.
- Education
and Healthcare: Broadband
in schools and healthcare centers will promote e-learning, telemedicine,
and other digital services.
- Economic
Growth: Infrastructure
development will generate employment and stimulate economic activity in
both rural and urban regions.
- Disaster
Management: Leveraging
OPGW infrastructure will enhance communication resilience during natural
disasters and emergencies.
- Technological
Advancement: Adoption
of 5G and 6G networks will position India as a leader in global digital
innovation.
Way Ahead
- Affordable
Internet Services: Ensure broadband remains affordable to increase adoption across
all socio-economic groups.
- Strengthen
Collaboration: Partner
with private sector players to fast-track digital infrastructure
development.
- Invest
in Digital Literacy: Launch
initiatives to improve digital literacy, enabling citizens to leverage
connectivity effectively.
- Policy
Support: Implement
supportive policies to streamline processes, such as Right of Way (RoW)
approvals, to minimize delays.
BharatNet
Project
- About:
- National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) was launched in October 2011 and
was renamed as Bharat Net Project in 2015.
- It is the world’s largest rural
broadband connectivity programme using Optical Fiber. And
also a flagship mission implemented by Bharat Broadband Network
Ltd. (BBNL).
- BBNL
is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by the Government of India
under the Companies Act, 1956.
- It
is being implemented by the Department of Telecommunication under the
Ministry of Communications.
- This project involves altering the execution
strategy and employing Village Level Entrepreneurs (Udyamis) to
provide fiber connections to the last mile, thereby accelerating
the connectivity process over the next 2.5 years.
- It is financed by the Universal
Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
- USOF ensures that there is universal
non-discriminatory access to quality ICT (Information and
Communications Technology) services at economically efficient
prices to people in rural and remote areas.
- It
was created under the Ministry of Communications in 2002.
- Objective:
- The project aims to compete with
private operators like Jio and Airtel by leveraging its presence
in rural areas where these private operators are less prominent.
- The quality of service provided by
BharatNet is expected to play a role in attracting users.
- It aims to connect all 640,000
villages across India with high-speed internet access.
- It seeks to bring broadband internet
connectivity to each of the more than 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across the
country.
- The government intends to provide a
minimum of 100 Mbps bandwidth at each Gram Panchayat through
BharatNet so that everyone, especially those in rural India, can
access online services.
- Revamped
Approach:
- Similar to private telecom companies
like Airtel and Jio, the revamped BharatNet model will collaborate
with Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) for the implementation
of fiber connections.
- Under this approach, the government
will bear the cost of extending the infrastructure to homes,
while the entrepreneurs will contribute to the maintenance and
operation of home connections.
- This
partnership will work on a 50:50 revenue-sharing basis.
- Phases
of the Project:
- First Phase:
- Provide
more one lakh gram panchayats with broadband connectivity by
laying underground Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) lines by
December 2017.
- Second Phase:
- Provide
connectivity to all the gram panchayats in the country using an optimal
mix of underground fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite
media by March 2019.
- Third Phase:
- From
2019 to 2023, a state-of-the-art, future-proof network, including
fibre between districts and blocks, with ring topology to provide
redundancy would be created.
What are
the Progress and Milestones of BharatNet Project?
- Previously,
the challenge was to extend fiber-based internet connections to
households after laying the infrastructure under the BharatNet
project.
- To
address this, a successful pilot was conducted in 60,000 villages,
involving local partners to connect households.
- This
success paved the way for the involvement of Udyamis in
the project, expected to generate employment opportunities for around
250,000 people.
- Up to
this point, the government has connected approximately 194,000 villages,
providing internet access to around 567,000 households.
- Notably,
351,000 fiber connections have been established using the new
BharatNet Udyami project.
Telecom
Initiatives in India
Sanchar
Saathi Mobile App
The Sanchar Saathi
Mobile App is designed to boost telecom security. Key features include
reporting suspected fraud, managing mobile connections, blocking lost devices,
and verifying handset authenticity. It is available on both Android and iOS,
targeting over 90 crore smartphone users in India.
National
Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0
NBM 2.0 aims to
connect 1.7 lakh villages by 2030. It builds on the success of NBM 1.0, which
established 8 lakh towers. Objectives include achieving a minimum broadband
speed of 100 Mbps and expanding connectivity to 90% of anchor institutions. The
mission envisions a digitally inclusive future for all citizens.
Intra
Circle Roaming (ICR)
The ICR initiative
allows multiple telecom service providers to share infrastructure at DBN-funded
4G sites. This collaboration among BSNL, Airtel, and Reliance enhances
connectivity for over 35,400 rural villages, providing seamless 4G services
while reducing capital expenditure for operators.
Cybersecurity
Measures
The Sanchar Saathi
initiative has successfully combated cyber fraud, disconnecting 2.75 crore
fraudulent connections and securing over 25 lakh lost devices. The
International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System has blocked 90% of
spoofed calls, reducing cyber threats to citizens.
Collaboration
and Stakeholder Engagement
The initiatives
involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including ministries, state
governments, and telecom service providers. This collective effort aims to
streamline processes and enhance the effectiveness of the new telecom
regulations.
Previous
Achievements of NBM 1.0
NBM 1.0, initiated in
2019, expanded optical fibre networks and increased broadband subscribers to
941 million. It resolved Right of Way issues and introduced the “Call Before u
Dig” app to protect telecom infrastructure. The mission focused on bridging the
digital divide and enhancing access to essential services.
Future
Vision
The initiatives align
with the government’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. They aim to create a
connected, resilient, and sustainable India. The focus on technology and
innovation is expected to drive socio-economic growth and empower citizens
across the nation.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/incoming/national-broadband-mission-20-aims-to-expand-fiber-to-27-lakh-villages-by-2030/article69109130.ece#:~:text=The%20Mission%20aims%20to%20e