Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a ₹10,000-crore outlay for the expansion of telecom infrastructure.
“I have provided ₹10,000 crore during 2018-19 for creation and augmentation of this telecom infrastructure,” he said in his Budget speech, referring to the work done under the Bharat Net project, which is aimed at connecting 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by March 2019.
“The task of connecting 1 lakh gram panchayats with a high-speed optic fibre network has been completed under Phase 1. This has facilitated broadband access to cover rural Indians in 2.5 lakh villages. The government has also proposed to set up 5 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots which will provide broadband access to 5 crore rural citizens.”
To harness the benefits of emerging technologies, especially the fifth generation technology, the Department of Telecom would support the establishment of indigenous 5G centres, together with the IIT-Madras, he said.
In a move to push adoption and development of new digital technologies such as machine-learning, artificial intelligence and Internet of things, he announced ₹3,073 crore for the Department of Science and Technology. “To invest in research, training and skilling in robotics, AI, digital manufacturing, big data intelligence ... the DST will launch a mission on cyberspace to support the establishment of centres of excellence. I have doubled the allocation for Digital India to ₹3,073 crore in 2018-19.”
He said the global economy was transforming into digital economy with the development of cutting-edge technology in the space-machine learning, AI, IoT and 3D printing.
“Initiatives such as Digital India, Startup India and Make in India would help to establish itself as knowledge and digital society. The NITI Aayog will establish a national programme to direct our efforts in the area of AI, including research and development of its applications,” Mr. Jaitley said.
