The new telecom policy (NTP) will include a package to boost domestic manufacturing of equipment to cut dependence on imports and create local jobs, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said on Monday.
In an interview to PTI, she said work on the policy blueprint is likely to start after the September 8 meeting of the Telecom Commission — the highest decision making body for telecom sector.
The NTP roadmap will be placed before the inter- ministerial panel this week, she said. “Big thrust of the policy is Internet for all and second is Make in India.”
To begin with, the policy draft will be placed in public domain for wider consultations by December or January, she said.
If India has to reduce dependency on import, there is need to encourage local telecom companies to not just make for India but also for overseas markets like the Middle East, Asia and Africa, she said.
“It will have to be enabling environment which can catalyse on Make in India. We will be strengthening the preferential market access policy. As we develop local capability for manufacturing we will be ensuring that more and more manufacturing happens here,” Sundararajan said.