The National Telecom Policy ("NTP")
is the Department of Telecommunications
("DoT") policy document setting out its
vision and regulatory intent with respect to the telecom sector
typically over a long time-frame (5-8 years). The NTP is
essentially a non-binding document which is intended to guide the
decision-making process of the DoT so as to ensure that its actions
are directed towards achieving stated objectives.
Given that the NTPs is meant to be a long term document (the NTP
2012 envisaged goals all the way up to 2020), the DoT had commenced
discussions and preparations for a new NTP, since 2017.1 These discussions came to a fruition in the
form of a Draft National Digital Communications Policy, 2018
("Draft Policy") to which the DoT
invited public comments / suggestions from stakeholders. Following
response from the public and deliberations with stakeholders the
DoT released the much awaited National Digital Communication
Policy, 2018 ("NDCP 2018") after
