New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget in the Parliament on Tuesday. In her speech, Sitharaman announced to conduct spectrum auctions this year to roll out commercial 5G services within FY 22-23. PLI scheme for 5G services was also announced.
The finance minister also said that rural broadband is planned to be expanded and the laying of optical fibre in villages will be completed by 2025.
"Our vision is that all villages and the residents should have the same access to E services, communication facilities and resources as urban areas and their residents the contracts for laying optical fibre in all villages, including remote areas will be awarded under the Bharat NET project through PPP in 2022-23. Completion is expected in 2025," announced Nirmala Sitharaman.
She further said, "To enable affordable broadband and mobile service proliferation in rural and remote areas, five percent of annual collections under the universal service obligations fund will be located. This will promote R&D and commercialisation of technologies and solutions."
Pawas Tyagi, Co-Founder- edustoke said: "A clear emphasis on digital content development and delivery and overall efforts to digitize education is applauded as is the upgradation of Anganwadi. Coupled with 5G roll out - this budget should accelerate more accessible quality education in the country."