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Major Policy Initiatives and Decisions
(BULLET POINTS)
Ministry of Communications & IT
· Broadband Policy announced.
· Nation-wide Broadband Services launched in 200 cities by BSNL & MTNL w.ef. 14.1.2005.
· FDI Ceiling increased from 49 per cent to 74 per cent in the telecom sector.
· A target set for providing 200-250 million telephone connections by the year 2007.
· Performance Bank Guarantee in respect of National Long Distance Service licences reduced from Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 50 crore for each phase.
· Licence fee for Infrastructure Provider-II reduced from 15% to 6% of the AGR.
· Indoor use of low power applications in 2.4 GHz band delicensed for all technologies and applications.
· Delicensing of low power Wi-Fi and Wi-Max applications for outdoor usage in 2.4 G Hz band and for indoor use in 5.15 to 5.35 G Hz band.
· ISPs allowed to set up Submarine cable landing station for international gateways for Internet while providing VPN services to corporates and individuals.
· Rs. 1032 crore Revival Plan for Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) , Bangalore approved.
· Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been awarded the work for providing Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in all the remaining 66,822 uncovered villages by November 2007 under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
· Agreements signed for providing Rural Community Phones (RCPs) in 46253 villages with population exceeding 2000 and without a Public phone facility other than a VPT.
· Agreements signed for providing Rural household Lines (RDELs) in 1685 Short Distance Charging Areas( SDCAs).
· Automated spectrum management system commenced
· Access Deficit Charges (ADC) revised w.e.f. February 2005 resulting in further decrease in tariff for long distance calls.
· Post paid and prepaid mobile services were allowed in Jammu &Kashmir , Assam and North east Service areas.
IT SECTOR
· State Wide Area Network (SWAN) Policy announced for creating infrastructure for e-Governance in the States upto the block level.
· The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the scheme for establishing SWANs in 29 States and 6 UTs at a total outlay of Rs. 3,334 crore.
· National e-governance plan drawn covering 10 components including 25 Mission Mode Projects.
· '.in' domain policy announced simplifying Indian Internet domain name registration system, National Internet Exchange (NIXI) set up.
· In addition to North-Eastern States, 135 Community Information Centres (CIC) to be set up in all the Block Headquarters of Jammu & Kashmir. In the first phase 60 have been made operational, the remaining will be made operational by October 2005.
· Agreement with INTEL signed for extending the benefits of IT to the masses, investing for technology competitiveness and education, etc.
· Expert Committee constituted to examine the issues relating to increase PC penetration/coverage of Internet and growth of domestic software market has submitted its report.
POSTS
· During the year 2004-05, 839 Head Post Offices, 1533 Sub Post Offices and 53 Administrative and Accounts have been fully computerised.
· Logistics Post Service launched to provide end-to-end logistics support to business firms sending out parcel consignments. The service is now available in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamilnadu. A Parcel and Logistics Division has been established with a supporting structure at Circle and Lower Levels.
· Agreement entered into with UTI Asset Management Company Limited for distributing various mutual fund schemes on experimental basis from selected Post Offices
· Bill Mail Service -- bulk booking of bills/statements -- has been extended to National Bill Mail Service w.e.f. 16.2.2005. Under this, bills booked in bulk, can be delivered all over the country at cheaper rates.
BSC/SB/LG
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