Establishing broadband highways a focus area: Prasad

Restoring investor confidence, improving quality of services and establishing broadband highways will be the top priorities for newly appointed Minister for Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"If I can use a metaphor, if Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was known for national highways, Shri Narendra Modi's government should be known for broadband highways. I I have directed the department to work on more details of this project," he told reporters after assuming office.
"I want to assure all investors that the new government shall act in a transparent manner. The decision-making shall be fair based upon the twin objective of growth and consumer satisfaction. These are two broad decisions taken today," the Telecom Minister said.

The telecom department has been in the news for many wrong reasons and the first priority would be to set things right, he added.
"The way things happened in the past have dented investor confidence. We need to restore that. In the telecom industry, 100 per cent FDI is allowed. Therefore, the 100 per cent FDI must be quickened, must be helped to come to India under a transparent regime which is assured ... This shall be my endeavour," he said.
Prasad said he took presentations from all officers for two hours in order to understand things in detail.

He said he has asked his officers to consider some sort of softer regulatory mechanism that is stable.

"I have asked my officers to consider some sort of softer regulatory mechanism which is stable. If regulations are softer, they generate confidence but as a minister I will ensure whatever regulations are there they are strictly followed," he said.
He also said improving mobile access in areas like North East, extremism-infested areas, Ladakh, Andman and Nicobar and other rural areas.