Broadband India Forum’s Visionary Budget 2024-25 Proposals
Broadband India Forum (BIF) has anticipates key measures to foster the growth of Digital Public Infrastructure as the Union Budget 2024-25 approaches. In the context of the government’s active pursuit of digital transformation and efforts to enhance investor confidence, BIF views the upcoming budget as a strategic opportunity for the implementation of vital initiatives.
The forum has highlighted several crucial aspects to be addressed, including the necessity of Wi-Fi in broadband delivery, irrespective of the backhaul medium. BIF is urging budgetary support, encompassing reduced statutory fees, levies, and GST exemption on service revenues from FTTX+W-Fi deployments, to propel rapid growth in Fixed Broadband.
TV Ramachandran, President of Broadband India Forum (BIF), said, “Our proposals, including reduced fees, levies, and GST exemption, aim to ignite rapid growth in Fixed Broadband, contributing significantly to India’s digital infrastructure. We also advocate for the expansion of PM-WANI based Public Wi-Fi hotspots, urging duty and levy waivers. Budgetary assistance for the Satcom industry and incentives for local mobile handset components align with our vision for a digitally empowered India. We are hopeful that these measures, if incorporated, will accelerate the sector’s growth, fully aligning with Government priorities and recent collaborations between India and the US in cutting-edge technologies.”
In addition, BIF pointed out the global uniqueness of the Indian invention – PM-WANI, which has the status and importance of effectively being the UPI of Telecom and so also advocates for budgetary support for the expansion of PM-WANI-based Public Wi-Fi hotspots, calling for duty and levy waivers on associated equipment and revenues. Additionally, incentives are proposed to stimulate the development and production of local components in mobile handsets, contributing to the augmentation of indigenous components in finished handsets manufactured in India. BIF is also appealing for budgetary support to promote research and innovation in cutting-edge technologies such as O-RAN/V-RAN, Quantum Communications, and Next-Generation Communication Technologies, aligning with recent areas of cooperation between India and the US.
BIF remains optimistic that the Union Budget 2024-25 will incorporate essential measures, aligning with the government’s vision for a digitally empowered India. The forum believes that these initiatives will significantly contribute to the growth of the digital infrastructure sector.
