New telecom policy targets 2x export growth, one million jobs by 2030

Time of India

19-05-2025

New Delhi: The government plans to double telecom products exports and ensure universal connectivity at affordable rates through a combination of terrestrial and satellite networks by 2030, while creating one million new jobs, as part of the next National Telecom Policy (NTP).The policy-being worked out by the communications ministry in consultations with all stakeholders-aims to increase the information and communications technology (ICT) sector's contribution to India's GDP from 7.8% to 11% by 2030, and attract annual investment of ₹1.5 lakh crore in telecom infrastructure, officials privy to the details told ET.
The government has been focused on self-sufficiency in the telecom sector, pushing local production with initiatives like the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom equipment. As on March 31, 2025, the industry achieved total sales of ₹80,927 crore under the PLI scheme, of which exports contributed ₹14,915 crore.
"The NTP 2025 will be notified soon with aims and targets to be achieved by 2030," one of the officials told ET.
New jobs in the sector will mostly be focused on roles in 5G and 6G, internet of things, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, big data, and
quantum communications
, the person said.
"Going forward, an enabling framework would be worked out for integrating non-terrestrial networks, including satellite systems with terrestrial networks, to facilitate expansion of telecom services across the country," the official added.
The policy targets 4G coverage for the entire population and 5G for 90% by 2030. The government also aims to complete fiberisation of all gram panchayats under BharatNet and provide fibre connectivity to all government institutions at village level by 2030. "The aim is to increase the fixed line broadband network from 45 million to 100 million households in the country," a second official said. There is also a plan to deploy one million Wi-Fi hotspots in the country by 2030.
Further, satellite systems-particularly non-geo stationary orbit (NGSO) players like Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, Eutelsat Oneweb and Jio-SES combine-are expected to become mainstream in the coming years as the government aims to utilise satellite communication to provide connectivity in rural and remote areas.
The
Department of Telecommunications
(DoT) has already granted satcom permits to Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES while a letter of intent (LoI) has been given to Starlink.