Digital Bharat Nidhi For Telecom Services

On 5th July 2024, some sections of the Telecommunications Act 2023 came into force. Now, the first set of rules known as Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024 have been introduced under this Act recently. Through these newly published rules, the government aims to broaden the scope of telecom services across underserved areas. According to these rules, the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) administrator will oversee the implementation of funds of Digital Bharat Nidhi for telecom services. Let’s understand what the Digital Bharat Nidhi is, along with its roles and responsibilities. 

What is Digital Bharat Nidhi?

To address the evolving technological needs of India, the Digital Bharat Nidhi has been launched by the DoT. It is a fund which has replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund which was established in 2003. 

Digital Bharat Nidhi’s goal is to enhance telecom connectivity across rural and underserved areas in the country. To achieve this goal, DBN will fund various projects to improve telecom services, such as mobile and broadband connectivity and boost security. The Telecommunications Act 2023 and its provisions for DBN are aimed at advancing our country’s goal of becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. The provisions related to Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) are mentioned under Section 24-26, Chapter V of the Act

The Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024 outline the roles and responsibilities of the DBN administrator who will supervise the fund's implementation. A specific criteria must be met before a project becomes eligible for funding under DBN, such as enhancing telecom services, promoting innovation and research within the telecom sector, etc.

Roles and Responsibilities of Digital Bharat Nidhi

Digital Bharat Nidhi has several roles and responsibilities aimed towards reshaping the telecommunication sector in the country. Some of these roles and responsibilities include the following:

• To promote access to telecom services in areas such as underserved rural areas, remote areas and urban areas and make sure that digital connectivity benefits every Indian citizen.
• DBN is responsible for providing funding for development of new telecom products, technologies, and services. This includes backing pilot projects and offering consultancy and advisory services to improve connectivity services and infrastructure.
• Digital Bharat Nidhi shall encourage innovation by supporting telecom startups and developing telecom technologies indigenously.  
• To ensure inclusive digital growth, DBN shall implement schemes that particularly serve the marginalized groups such as women, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker sections. 

Conclusion

Digital Bharat Nidhi has replaced the previous Universal Service Obligation Fund. DBN aims to address the changing needs of the telecom sector. Through DBN, the telecom connectivity will be enhanced in the underserved areas of the country. The funds provided by it will help various telecom projects in India and work towards achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. For assistance in obtaining a TEC Certificate for Telecom Equipment, connect with Registrationwala.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.