National Broadband Mission 2.0

General Studies Paper -2

Context: 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).

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.