The India government, under National Telecom Policy (NTP 2018), is likely to come up with provisions on data sovereignty prompting tech companies and telecom operators to set up their own servers in India.
PTI reported that NTP 2018 will force technology companies, who are hosting data of Indians, to set up servers in the country by 2022.
The government is likely to submit the draft of NTP 2018 on May 1 for public comments. The India government may ask telecom service providers to keep messages, e-mails, etc. of Indian citizens within boundaries of the country.
At present, most of the internet companies, mainly social media and email firms, use servers located abroad for transmitting and routing communications of Indian citizens even if the message has been sent to a person within the national boundary. There have been allegations of misuse of servers located abroad for surveillance by countries and companies where they are located.
Draft NTP will have provision around data sovereignty and stringent framework for data protection in the telecom networks. The NTP will come up with provisions to provide high speed broadband access for all in the country. It will promote massive optical fibre roll-out in the country along with use of satellites in remote areas.
