Question : Reverse Auction Model

(a) whether it is a fact that Government is considering a reverse auction model for the sale of bandwidth for meeting fiscal needs and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has approved National Communications Policy 2018, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has plans to provide universal broadband service of 50 Mbps speed to every citizen under this scheme, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the funds invested in the scheme, State/UT-wise including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)


(a) No, Madam.

(b) to (d) Yes Madam. The Government has approved National Digital Communications Policy 2018. The National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018) has been notified in the Gazette of India vide No. 2-14/2018-Policy (Pt-I) dated 22nd October, 2018 with a vision to support India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society. One of the goals of NDCP-2018 is to provide universal broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen by 2022.