Only telecom equipment manufactured in India should connect North East and Border Areas: TEMA

TEMA has urged the Government of India to provide on priority telecom connectivity to Border and Sensitive areas of India by Make In India equipment only, and immediately give directions to BSNL to cover all the unconnected areas in North East, Left Wing Effected areas, unconnected hilly, remote areas.

The industry association has raised its concerns of no or limited telecom connectivity in many parts of these areas and other inaccessible parts of country.

TEMA has pointed out that these areas are sensitive for national security and need immediate attention. The Bharat Net project has investment plans of about Rs 40,000 crores. It has suggested that BSNL should be allowed to use these, since BSNL has successfully shown execution capabilities in LWE areas and had procured equipment from domestic manufacturers.

Out of about 2, 55,000 Gram Panchayats to be covered under Bharat Net, more than 1,10,000 are yet to be connected. About 2,500 Gram Panchayats are, however, to be connected via satellite telecommunications. They are the potential market for domestic manufacturers.

TEMA welcomes Hon'ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi Ji's call of 31st July, 2020: "Now that our digital connectivity ecosystem has scaled many peaks, it is now time to focus on self- reliance and security," and further", brainstorm about a roadmap to achieve end-to-end self-reliance in connectivity infrastructure."

TEMA applauds the statement of Secretary Telecom, Anshu Prakash on 31st July 2020, that "Concerted efforts are a must to achieve the goals and objectives of this (National Digital Communications) policy, provision of broadband for all."

Ravi Sharma, chairman, TEMA, said: "National security has become the most prime concern for the Government and all Indians. Considering the sensitivity involved, it's important that all unconnected areas in North East, Naxalite areas, and border and hilly areas should immediately be connected with telecom networks. Keeping in mind the security concerns, it is high time that BSNL is asked to provide telecom connectivity to these areas on an urgent basis using Make in India equipment only. Domestic Indian telecom manufacturers are fully geared to supply equipment for these networks."

Hon'ble Finance Minister, in her budget speech during July 2019, had said that the Central Government would spend over Rs 100 lakh crores on building modern infrastructure/up-gradation over the next five years. The Hon'ble FM had also said, "We need to invest in infrastructure, digital economy and job creation in small and medium enterprises."

This is known as the National Infrastructure Pipeline. This was also included in the National Address of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on 15th August, 2019, when he spoke of investing Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure. Even if 4-5% of this is taken for telecom projects, it would be around Rs 4,00,000-5,00,000 crores. We estimate at least 50% of this, i.e., about Rs 2,00,000-2,50,000 crores should be coming from domestic manufacturers, cumulative over the next five years.

Sandeep Aggarwal, vice chairman, TEMA, said: "The Indian manufacturing sector is looking forward in supporting BSNL and Bharat Net in providing connectivity to unconnected areas. The immediate action of making this network by Make In India will strengthen the domestic manufacturing sector by revenue of about Rs 20,000 crores. We urge the Government to take an immediate decision."