Telecom Minister at India Mobile Congress 2021: We are open to more Reforms

Speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2021, telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the government remains open to introducing further reforms in the telecom sector.

Ashwini Vaishnaw at India Mobile Congress 2021

The telecom minister, while speaking at the event, asked the industry stakeholders to send suggestions for further reforms. He stressed bringing India's regulatory framework at par with the best in the world. Vaishanw also invited telcos to suggest ways to spread digital connectivity across the country.

The telecom minister said, "we want to benchmark our regulatory framework with the best in the world. We want industry to keep adding value to the people. So I request all of you through this conference, please come up with new suggestions. Please come up with suggestions for the regulatory framework. We are open to more reforms".

In September, the government had announced a set of telecom sector reforms, to provide some much-needed relief to the financially-strained sector. The telecom reforms included the redefinition of AGR, a 4-year moratorium on the spectrum and AGR dues, among others. While announcing the aforementioned relief package, Vaishnaw had said that the telecom ministry will look to introduce more reforms. Back then, Vaishnaw had added, “we do not intend to stop”.

At the India Mobile Congress 2021, Vaishnaw reaffirmed the same.

Government Serious About 5G

Vaishnaw also took the chance to highlight the government's support in the development of 5G in the country. He said that the policies of the government have been helpful. Further, he said that the country can see an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured 5G mobile network as early as Q3 2022.

Notably, the 5G trials have been live since June. Furthermore, the government allocated experimental spectrum to all the telcos across multiple 5G bands. Furthermore, the government also extended the 5G trials by 6 months in November.

Telecom and Geopolitics

Given the geopolitical situation with China, the government has introduced trusted sources for telecom gear. Therefore, Vaishnaw asked the industry to make their networks secure with the same.

He said, "there are paramount concerns among all the nations of the world regarding the security of telecom networks. People want telecom devices, telecom equipment, telecom network operating system, everything to be from trusted sources".

He further added, "new geopolitical realities are facing all of us and under such circumstances, a good framework is one that will enable people to have trusted sources, have good equipment, and also increase overall trust in telecom services".