National Broadband Mission 2.0 in the works

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is working on the next leg of the National Broadband Mission to improve connectivity, quality of services, increase broadband penetration, and infrastructure in the country.

- JATIN GROVER

Though the current National Broadband Mission has run its five-year cycle, the targets have not been achieved. Therefore, the new mission will aim at setting realistic targets with regard to tower fiberisation, laying infrastructure for optical fiber cable (OFC), and improving broadband speeds, officials said.

The plan is at the approval stage at the moment. Discussions are going on with regard to the focus areas, investments to be made by the government, and responsibilities of the private sector to improve the connectivity, especially in far-flung areas so that there is no digital divide, officials said.