Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the draft National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25), outlining an ambitious roadmap to transform India into a global telecom technology hub.
The policy aims to attract ₹1 lakh crore in annual investments and generate 10 lakh new jobs in the sector by 2030, while doubling the telecom sector’s contribution to the national GDP.
The draft, issued on July 24, 2025, is open for public consultation for 21 days.
It lays out six strategic missions focused on connectivity, innovation, manufacturing, security, ease of doing business, and sustainability.
Telecom Policy: Infrastructure Expansion and Connectivity Goals
NTP-25 sets aggressive targets to improve digital infrastructure and access:
- Universal 4G coverage and 90% 5G population coverage by 2030
- Fixed broadband access to 100 million households
- Fiber connectivity to 80% of mobile towers
- Deployment of 1 million public Wi-Fi hotspots
- Expansion of satellite and non-terrestrial networks
The policy also proposes the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme to support rural connectivity and incentivize fixed-line broadband in underserved areas.
Telecom Policy: Employment Generation and Workforce Development
To meet future industry demands, the policy aims to:
- Create 10 lakh new jobs in telecom and allied sectors
- Upskill and reskill another 10 lakh workers
- Establish an Indian Institute of Telecom Technology
- Set up 30 advanced research labs across academic institutions
These initiatives are designed to build a future-ready workforce capable of supporting emerging technologies and global telecom standards.
Innovation and R&D Focus
NTP-25 emphasizes India’s role in telecom innovation, with goals to:
- Position India among the top 10 global hubs for telecom research
- Achieve 10% global share in 6G-related intellectual property rights
- Support 500 telecom startups and MSMEs
- Create 10 centers of excellence for emerging technologies
The policy proposes a Sovereign Patent Fund to develop and pool Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) for widely used telecom technologies.
Domestic Manufacturing and Export Promotion
To reduce import dependency and boost exports, the policy outlines:
- Creation of Telecom Manufacturing Zones
- Capex and Opex incentives for design-led production
- Doubling of telecom product and service exports
- Achieving 50% import substitution by 2030
These measures aim to make India a preferred global supplier of telecom equipment and software.
Security, Regulation, and Sustainability
The draft policy proposes:
- Development of quantum-secure telecom infrastructure
- Establishment of National Telecom SafeNet for cybersecurity
- Biometric-based identification for telecom users
- Regulatory reforms to simplify compliance and promote spectrum trading
- Integration of AI and ML for incident reporting and network monitoring
Environmental sustainability is also addressed through energy-efficient networks and green telecom practices.
Global Positioning and Public Participation
The policy envisions India not only as a leading consumer of digital technologies but also as a trusted global provider of telecom products and services.
Stakeholders, experts, and citizens are encouraged to submit feedback to shape the final framework.
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