The Broadband India Forum (BIF) welcomes the TRAI Recommendations for the Promotion of Networking & Telecom Equipment Manufacturing (NATEM) for its assessment of India’s potential in manufacturing and its measures to transition the sector from import dependency to a global manufacturing hub.

Shri T.V. Ramachandran, President of the Broadband India Forum, commends TRAI for recommending measures to make India a global manufacturing hub for networking and telecom equipment. The recommendations include a review of the policy guidelines and value addition norms, as well as additional financial incentives and procedural simplification to position India as a global R&D and repair hub. He also suggests applying some provisions to the Satcom industry.

The recommendations also include the inclusion of VSAT terminals and IoT devices under NATEM policies, the establishment of a new NATEDF fund to support networking and telecom equipment manufacturing, the creation of a Telecom Equipment Development Board (TEDB) for funding decisions, and the introduction of a financial scheme for capital expenses.

Other recommendations include financial support for NATEM manufacturing in the first 5 years, tax relief for IPR-driven companies, funding for promoting the startup ecosystem, financial support for standardization work, and the creation of an online portal for complaints.

The Broadband India Forum (BIF) functions as an independent policy forum and think-tank focused on the development of the broadband ecosystem in India. Its goal is to promote affordable and high-speed broadband throughout the country in line with the vision of Digital India.