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Recently, the Union Minister of Communications launched National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 by unveiling its vision document. 

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• The Minister also launched the Sanchar Saathi Mobile App and inaugurated Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) at DBN-funded 4G mobile sites.

• Sanchar Saathi Mobile App: It is designed to help citizens secure their telecom services and prevent fraud.
• Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) at DBN-funded 4G Sites: Ensures seamless 4G connectivity across the country.
• This initiative allows multiple telecom service providers (TSPs – BSNL, Airtel, Reliance) to use the same tower infrastructure, providing seamless 4G services across the country. 
• With around 27,836 DBN-funded sites across the country, this step ensures greater connectivity, especially in rural and remote regions, benefiting over 35,400 villages.

National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0

• NBM 2.0 is an updated version of the NBM 1.0, Under which nearly 8 lakh telecom towers were established. 
• The NBM 2.0 is crucial in supporting the government’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047, by providing high-speed internet to empower rural communities and bridge the digital divide.
• Mission: - to create a connected, resilient, and sustainable India where technology and innovation thrive for the prosperity of all.

Key Objectives

• Extending operational optical fibre cable (OFC) connectivity to 2.70 lakh villages by 2030 with 95% uptime from ~50,000 as of now.
• To provide broadband connectivity to 90% of anchor institutions like Schools, PHCs, Anganwadi Centre, and Panchayat offices by 2030.
• Improve the Fixed broadband download Speeds- National Average from 63.55 Mbps in November 2024 to a minimum of 100 Mbps by 2030.
• To achieve 100% mapping of fibre networks owned by government PSUs by 2026 on PM GatiShakti National MasterPlan Platform (PMGS) and use PMGS for planning of Additional Bharatnet project.
• For Ease of Doing Business – reduce the Right of Way application average disposal time from 60 days (now)to 30 days by 2030, In 2019 it was 449 days.
• Increase the number of rural internet subscribers per 100 population from the current 45 to 60 by 2030.
• Achieve the target of powering 30% of mobile towers with sustainable energy by 2030.
• To facilitate the rollout of the 5G network, in the nook and corner of the country and for futuristic networks of 6G, work to create a robust, ready-to-use street furniture infrastructure across the country.
• In remote, hilly, and hard-to-reach areas where it’s difficult to build traditional infrastructure, the government plans to use existing power sector assets, like Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), to improve broadband networks. 

India’s Broadband Connections

• Since 2014 broadband connections (wireless and wireline) have grown substantially, up from 6.1 Crore in 2014 to 83.22 Crore in 2023 (as on December 31, 2022). 
• Notably, out of 83.22 Crore broadband connections, 79.98 Crore are wireless whereas 3.23 Crore are wireline.
• India witnessed an impressive 200% increase in internet subscriptions in rural areas and a 158% increase in urban areas between 2015 and 2021. 
• This growth can be attributed to India’s ‘Digital India’ programme, which was launched in 2015.