Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had indicated in her budget speech that technology and digitisation will play a crucial role in achieving the $5 trillion milestone by 2024. According to a new report by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), data governance, cybersecurity, encryption, and surveillance, cloud computing, AI, and Internet of Things should be the policy focus areas. Reconsidering data localisation norms, encouraging a free flow of data across borders, simplifying KYC norms for digital payments are among the IAMAI’s 70 recommendations for a policy on digital technology. These recommendations will set as guiding principles for the government, regulators and other stakeholders while developing the digital technology policy in India, the IAMAI said. Ikigai Law authored the report. The key recommendations have been summarised below: 1. On digital connectivity infrastructure Recommendation 1: Prioritise the implementation of National Digital Communication Policy's (NDCP) goals and key recommendations. It recommends development of “regulatory frameworks and incentives for promoting the establishment of international data centres, content delivery networks and independent interconnect exchanges in India”. It also emphasises the creation of enabling infrastructure for the convergence of IT , telecommunications and broadcasting services. Recommendation 2: Ease licensing and regulatory requirements for telecommunication services: The government should focus on boosting foreign investment and should facilitate the development of next-generation technologies. These reforms should allow companies that are not traditionally licensed telecom players to participate in the provision of telecom services. Recommendation 3: Improve the efficiency of implementing agencies such as Bharat Broadband Network Limited as this could potentially act…
