In 500 days, the government would spend Rs 26,000 crore to construct 25,000 telecom towers

According to telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, connection is essential for creating a "Digital India," hence the government has approved spending Rs 26,000 crore to build 25,000 telecommunications towers around the nation over the next 500 days.

The action was taken shortly after India launched 5G services, which the government claims would speed up the digital revolution by enabling internet access in the nation's most rural areas.

For the installation of towers, the government will use the Universal Service Obligation Fund. According to reports, towers would be installed via the government-owned special purpose vehicle known as Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL).

Speaking at the October 3rd-ending Digital India Conference of State IT Ministers, Vaishnaw commended all the states and union territories for quickly bringing in PM Gati Shakti.

Gati Shakti is a digital platform that unites 16 ministries, including those in charge of roads and railways, to plan and carry out infrastructure projects in unison.

The minister exhorted the states to take the initiative and enact business-friendly laws. The minister emphasised Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, saying that all states and UTs were essential to advancing Digital India, achieving the goals of AtmaNirbhar Bharat (self-sufficient India), and creating a trillion-dollar digital economy.

Priority topics of the Digital India efforts were discussed on the opening day of the conference, which lasted three days.

On Day 2, three workshops on IT Rules, Online Gaming and Data Governance, Digital India Bhashini & Digital Payment, and MyScheme and Meri Pehchaan were organised by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY).

MeitY organised panel talks on the final day of the conference about bringing startups to Tier 2 cities, using technology in public services, and making India a "semiconductor nation."