COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Communications 9.1 The modern communication system is an integral part of the development process, and can aid in the acceleration of the growth of the economy by providing the necessary motivation and information. Therefore in the Seventh Plan, all existing communication capabilities both hardware and software-will be harnessed and also augmented to the extent required. The electronic means-radio, T.V. and telecommunications-will have to play a major role in this effort. While the communication system will be used to serve all segments of society, it will be developed to accord special priority to the rural people and to the deprived sections.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Introduction 9.2 Growth in Telecommunications is inextricably related to and woven with growth of technologies in other sectors. It serves as an important input into the total development effort. It is linked with a large variety of high technology areas, for example, Electronics Sector, Satellite Communication, Broadcasting network and services like Power, Oil, Railways, Mines Banking and Airlines. The development of solid state electronics, digital computer and space communications opens up many new possibilities in the field of telecommunications. The growing use of digital technology in telecommunications facilities its interface with computers and the advent of satellites reduces the costs of long haul telecommunications. These developments should enable the country to move into a new era of telecommunications.
Sixth Plan Review 9.3 In the Sixth Plan, a provision of Rs. 2810 crores was made for the development of Communications. It was then envisaged that the Communication Services, particularly Postal and Telecommunication Services, will be extended to all parts of the country, with special attention to Rural, Tribal and Hill areas. The anticipated expenditure is Rs. 3095.59 crores.
Telecommunications 9.4 A provision of Rs. 2336 crores was made for Telecommunications in the Sixth Plan, the anticipated expenditure is Rs. 2729.64 crores. However, whereas in financial terms, the provision has exceeded, the achievement of physical targets has lagged behind. As compared to a target of 13.3 lakh Direct Exchange Lines (DELs) the achievement will be only 8.82 lakh DELs i.e. about 66 per cent. In case of long distance switching and transmission systems the achievements have been less than 50 per cent of the physical targets.
Indian Telephone Industries 9.5 In the Sixth Plan, a provision of Rs. 195 crores was made for the development schemes of the ITI. The expenditure in the Plan period has been Rs. 136.73 crores. The more important schemes on which expenditure was incurred in the Sixth Plan are (i) Bangalore Unit, (ii) Rae Bareli Cross Bar Factory, and (iii) ESS Factory at Mankapur (Gonda). The shortfalls in utilisation of outlays have been in the cases of Palghat Phase III Expansion, Rae Bareli Cross Bar Unit and Bangalore and Naini Telephone Expansion Projects.
Hindustan Teleprinters Ltd. 9.6 In the Sixth Plan, a provision of Rs. 14 crores was made for the development programmes of H.T.L. estimated expenditure has been Rs. 7.27 crores. The expenditure was incurred on modernisation of existing facilities, Factory buildings, Housing & Welfare, R&D, the Electric Typewriter Project and the Electronic Teleprinter Project.
Overseas Communications Services (OCS) 9.7 A provision of Rs. 85 crores was included in the Sixth Plan for the O.C.S.; of this amount, a sum of Rs. 69.51 crores has been spent. The expenditure was incurred on various schemes/include, inter-alia, the Switching and Satellite Projects, Capital Contribution on INTELSAT and INMARSAT, the Indo-USSR Tropo Project etc.
Monitoring Organisation 9.8 In the Sixth Plan a provision of Rs. 8 crores was made for schemes of this Organisation, the anticipated expenditure in the five year period is Rs. 3.51 crores. Some of the important schemes taken up during the Sixth Plan are (i) Setting up of two new monitoring stations, (ii) procurement of equipment for 4 microwave monitoring stations, (iii) modernisation, (iv) Radio Noise Survey Unit,
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(v) Monitoring of Space Emissions, and (vi) Training and Development Centres. Some of these schemes will spill over to the Seventh Plan.
Seventh Plan 9.9 In the Seventh Plan, the development of the Communications Sector will be characterised by a five-pronged strategy: balanced growth in net-work, rapid modernisation, a quantum jump in technology, increased productivity and innovations in organisations and manage- ment.
9.10 To achieve the above in an orderly manner, the Seventh Plan would address itself to the following:-
(i) To improve or replace worn-out equipment and make a jump in digital electronic and optic fibre;
(ii) To prescribe precise time frames for the introduction of new services and network expansions;
(iii) To integrate services with the eventual target of providing Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).
(iv) To advise on application of new technologies in fields of hardware and software in India's future network plans;
(v) To extend telecommunication to rural areas;
(vi) To provide new services to help promote growth in the business and industrial sectors;
(vii) To provide facilities for Training and Strengthening of R&D facilities.
(viii) To introduce effective Telecom Organisation and Management to be able to operate its systems and plans for the future.
9.11 The Improvement component would consist of replacing life- expired and worn out equipment ducting of Cables, automatisation of Manual Exchanges and Computerisation of Services in Metropolitan cities etc. The upgradation of the network in the 4 Metropolitan cities of Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras is included under this component. The Balancing Component consists of investment required for the removal of mismatches and imbalance in the network, mostly between equipped capacity and the revenue earning DELs and between Long Distance Transmission Capacity and growth of DELs in the Local Switching System. The Expansion Component consist of the addition to be made to the existing facilities like additional DELs, Additional Telex connections etc.
9.12 Non-voice Telecommunication Services including Data Communication and Computer Communication System would be set up. It will provide invaluable service support to commerce, industry, banking, airlines, land bulk users like Oil, power Railways, etc., and terminals for versatile use of data, facsimile, computer hookup and even voice, if necessary.
9.13 Standardisation of equipment would be aimed at Total Systems engineering job would precede equipment supply. There is a need for a Communication Systems Engineering and Analysis Body to be set up, which has expertise and skills for systems design, and which can also guide telecom users.
9.14 Training of the requisite personnel for the Tele- communication sector would be given special emphasis to meet the fundamental changes taking place in the technologies, which would require imparting new kind of skills. For this purpose ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) would be dedicated to give training to Telecommunication workers and an appropriate syllabus be framed for this purpose.
9.15 Telecom should pay for itself. The users would increasingly be made to bear the cost of Telecom use, especially Bulk Users like Power, Oil, Railways, Banks, Airlines, etc. It should also be possible to mobilise additional resources for telecom development through innovative methods of financing, e.g. direct borrowings from the market.
9.16 Fundamental changes in organisational structures and management methods would be called for. The first step has already been taken by a Committee being appointed to look into the possibilities of creating Corporations in the cities of Delhi and Bombay to undertake the Telecommunication work. Organisational restructuring by itself will not be sufficient. Agencies involved in providing telecommunication services must be transformed from procedure and rule-bound bureaucratic institutions to commercial enterprises with enterpreneurial drive. Procedures for project planning, financial control, maintenance, technology development and even marketing have to be changed. This is necessary since telecommunication now is an industry with fast changing technology, new applications and high expectations from its users.
9.17 The total outlay for the Department of Telecommunications during the Seventh Plan is Rs. 4530.00 crores made up as under:
Sub-Sector Rs. Crores
Telecommunications 4010.00
Indian Telephone Industries 335.00
Hindustan Teleprinters Ltd. 24.22
Overseas Communication
Services 146.55
Monitoring Organisation 14.23
Total 4,530.00
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The various subheads under which outlay on Telecommunications would be spent are given on the following page.
Local Telephone System 9.18 A provision of Rs. 1690 crores is included in the Seventh Plan. With this provision, it is proposed to add an additional Switching Capacity of about 12 lakh lines for commissioning 9.5 lakh DELs, to reach a level of about 38 lakh DELs as on 1-4-1990. This outlay includes, inter-alia, provision for ducting of 6500 route kms. of underground cables, replacement of equipment for 1 lakh lines, automatisation of 60,000 manual exchange lines and computerisation of services in the four metro-cities and some major Telephone Districts.
Long Distance Switching 9.19 A provision of Rs. 142 crores is proposed to be made for long distance switching. As compared to the physical achievement of 47,220 lines of TAX Capacity in the Sixth Plan, about 77,000 lines are expected to be commissioned in the Seventh Plan period.
Long Distance Transmission System 9.20 For the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 933 crores has been made for long distance transmission systems. The physical target likely to be achieved in the Seventh Plan is 1.17 lakh additional channels of co-axial cables, fibre optics, microwave and U.H.F.
Insat and Intelsat 9.21 It is necessary to provide a variety of Satellite based services for Industry, Commerce, Defence, Security and Emergency needs. For the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 174 crores is being made.
Open Wire and Telegraphs 9.22 For the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 606 crores has been made for open wire Telegraphs, Telex, Rural Tele-Communication and Non-Voice services. It is proposed to modernise the public telegraph network, provide 9,000 Rural Long Distance Public Telephones (LDPTs), and to bring 15 Districts under the coverage of Rural Integrated Digital Network (IDN). The Telex Capacity is proposed to be augmented by 48,000 local capacity lines and 7,000 transit capacity lines.
9.23 The changing pattern of demand for Telecommunication services, especially the growing demand for data and non-voice communication facilities, has also kept in view and the Plan includes introduction of new services such as Teletex, Videotex, Telefax etc.
Others 9.24 For the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 220 crores has been made for land & buildings, and Rs. 245 crores for the Telecommunication Research Centre, Testing and other organisations.
Indian Telephone Industries 9.25 In the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 335 crores has been made for the development programmes of the Indian Telephone Industries. Work will be continued in the Plan period on various spill-over schemes. These include the ESS factory, Mankapur, Bangalore and Naini Telephone units, Rae Bareli cross Bar and Palghat Electronics Units. New Schemes on which work is expected to start in the Seventh Plan are a second Electronic switching Factory, a Transmission Equipment Unit and a dedicated unit for defence supplies. Provision is also made for R&D.
Hindustan Teleprinters Ltd. 9.26 In the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 24.22 crores has been made for the development schemes of the HTL Work will be continued on the spill-over schemes.
Overseas Communication Services (OCS) 9.27 In the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 146.55 crores is proposed to be made for the development schemes of the Overseas Communication Services. Work will be continued on the spill over schemes, the most important of which is the scheme relating to Westward Cable to Gulf Countries and Bombay-Madras Microwave Link. Among the new schemes to be taken up in the Seventh Plan period are the Satellite and switching projects, the submarine cable project, and HF services. This is a highly revenue yielding area, and the early completion of the scheme proposed, would enable the Department to increase their revenues.
Monitoring Organization 9.28 The Wireless Monitoring Organisation with its network of 21 stations, is the nodal coordinating and regulating agency on matters relating to the utilisation of radio spectrum at the national level. With the rapid technological advancement and proliferation of wireless transmission media, the task of monitoring is getting more challenging, sophisticated and voluminous. There is, thus, need to strengthen and modernise the Organisation.
9.29 For the Seventh Plan, a provision of Rs. 14.23 crores has been made for the development schemes of this Organisation. Work will be continued on the spill over schemes. The more important of the new works proposed to be undertaken in the Plan period include (i) Modernisation of existing HF/VHF Monitoring Facilities, (ii) Addition of HF/VHF fixed and mobile Monitoring Units; (iii) Monitoring of HF/DF systems, (iv) Regional Maintenance centres and (v) Associated Civil works.
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POSTAL SECTOR
Sixth Plan Review 9.30 In the Sixth Plan, expansion of Postal Network was envisaged mainly for the rural, backward, hilly and tribal areas. Measures were also envisaged to improve the quality of the existing rural Postal Services. The Plan included a provision of Rs. 172 crores for the development of Postal Services. The expenditure in the five year period is now estimated at Rs. 148.93 crores. The physical achievements in the Sixth Plan include the opening of 6752 Rural Post Offices, the provision of Counter Service to rural areas in 9,625 villages, installation of 12,832 letter boxes, appointment of 8040 extra departmental agents and 37 Plan Monitoring Inspectors. The physical achievements include the construction of 5.32 Postal Buildings and 4453 Staff Quarters. Other physical achievements include the acquisition of 657 Mail Motor Vehicle and 18 Mail Vans.
Programmes and Outlays Seventh Plan 9.31 In the Seventh Plan a provision of Rs. 295 crores has been made for Postal Services.
9.32 Under the sub-head, "Expansion of Postal Network", on outlays of Rs. 10.10 crores is provided. The physical targets proposed are as below:
TABLE 9.1
Sl. Physical
No. Scheme targets
(i) Opening of Post Offices 6,000 nos.
(ii) Counter Services to rural areas 4,000 nos.
(iii) Installation of letter boxes 5,000 nos.
(iv) Additional Extra Departmental Agents 1,200 nos.
(v) creation of Posts of PMIs 33 nos.
9.33 This is a highly employment intensive programme, and the provision made in the Seventh Plan will help to increase the depth of coverage of Postal Network.
9.34 A provision of Rs. 215 crores has been made in the Seventh Plan for construction of buildings. It is proposed to construct 1250 postal buildings and 7000 Staff quarters with this provision.
9.35 A provision of Rs. 15 crores has been included in the Plan for training schemes.
9.36 Under mechanisation and modernisation of Postal Services, a provision of Rs. 39 crores has been made. This includes the introduction of automatic sorting projects at one or two metropolitan cities, one departmental printing press, electronic data processing machines etc.
9.37 For Mail Motor Vehicles, a provision of Rs. 11.10 crores has been made and it is proposed to acquire about 900 vehicles in the plan period. For RIMS vans, a provision of Rs. 4.80 crores has been made and with this provision, it is proposed to acquire 32 Mail Vans in the five year period.
S & T Component