Data protection law, boosting electronics mfg top priorities: Prasad
Prasad, who comes back to telecommunications while retaining the IT and law portfolios, also has plans to work out a revival strategy for the ailing state-owned telecom PSUs such as BSNL and MTNL.
The minister also plans to add vigour to the postal department, especially relying on the fast-paced growth in e-commerce and the rollout of the postal bank.
“Prime Minister Modi wants a greater synergy in the telecom and IT sectors, and driving joint strategies will be a part of my agenda,” Prasad told TOI as he prepares to take charge of the ministries from Monday.
A key challenge facing the minister will be to nurse the telecom sector back to health. After Prasad had departed from the telecom ministry in the Modi government’s first term, the sector had entered a tough terrain as Reliance Jio began services on the back of cut-throat tariffs.
“We had undertaken work related to spectrum auctions, expansion of optical fibre and spread of Digital India programme. The scope of these will be further expanded.”
Among the key challenges that the minister will face in the telecom sector will be to improve the quality of services offered to the consumers. Call drops and tackling unsatisfactory internet speed need urgent attention.
Also, ensuring healthy participation in the upcoming 5G auctions — which may be carried out over the next year — will be another priority area for Prasad.
Sources said that the new minister will also need to carve out government’s response to the participation of Chinese network vendor Huawei in 5G test trials as the US government puts pressure on India to keep the company out over its growing differences with the Chinese government. 5G trials are expected to begin over the next few weeks and clarity is required on the Huawei front.
On the IT side, tackling the spread of unlawful content on social-media platforms will also be a key area for the government.
The minister said that manufacturing of electronics will be given a special emphasis as the government works towards realising a $1 trillion sector from the electronics and digital industry. “We had accorded top priority to the manufacturing of mobile phones and electronics in the first term. This work will be further expanded now as the Make in India initiative gets strengthened.”
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References
- ^ Ravi Shankar Prasad (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Digital India (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ top priority (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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