New National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2011 Of India

Telecom Policy of India is one of the most important Policies of India. For some strange reason, the Telecom Policy of India was poorly drafted and badly implemented. Naturally, there were many “Loopholes” that gave rise to scams, bad policy decisions, financial losses to Governmental exchequer, poor consumer performances and so on.

That is a thing of past as Government of India is now planning to introduce the new National Telecom Policy (NTP) of India 2011. Although the intentions are good yet the actual execution and implementation of this intention is missing. Further, the efforts of Indian Government in general and Ministry of Communication and Information technology (MCIT) in particular are “Vague” and “Non Holistic”.

There are various “Crucial Components” of any sound, effective and robust Telecom Policy. These include, issues pertaining to Encryption, Telecom Security, wider Broadband Penetration, Telecom Equipment Security, E-Surveillance and Phone Tapping Policies, Lawful Interceptions and Eavesdropping Policies, Harmonisation of National Security and Civil liberties, etc.

I have labeled the present efforts of Indian Government and MCIT as vague and non holistic because these components must be an “Essential and Integral Part” of the proposed Indian National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2011. However, instead of being a “Composite Telecom Policy” the proposed Policy is not even considering these aspects “Singularly” and “Individually”. In short, these components are “Missing” from the proposed Telecom Policy of India.

This would again produce a Policy Document that would be “Open and Prone” to many sorts of Irregularities and Misuses. Consumer and Telecom Companies Disputes, Privacy Violations cases, Civil Liberties Violations, etc may also arise in future.

Fortunately, till now the new Telecom Policy of India 2011 has not been formulated and implemented. The concerns and suggestions mentioned above can still be incorporated in the same by MCIT Minister Kapil Sibal and Government of India.