Department Of Telecommunications: ET reported on September 15 that the DoT is mulling bringing the entire gamut of telecom products used in fibre-based home broadband networks under an import licensing regime to boost local manufacturing and cut import dependence, mirroring recent moves on import of IT hardware.
India is planning to impose customs duties on telecom components in a phased manner to discourage imports and promote domestic manufacturing. The Department of Telecommunications is considering an initial 10% import duty from January, increasing to 15% by October next year. The move is part of the government s Phased Manufacturing Programme, which aims to boost local production and value addition in the telecom sector.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is examining a proposal to impose an initial 10% import duty from January and raise it further to 15% by October next year on packaging items, antennae, WiFi switches, plastic/metal housing items, wires/cables, USB ports/connectors, power adaptors and other electrical/mechanical items, among telecom components, said officials aware of the matter.
The pre-pandemic approaches to supply chains were conditioned on the assumption that global links were reliable, predictable and cost-effective. Covid-19, geopolitics and labour market dynamics are driving firms and countries to look to new locations such as India, Mexico and Southeast Asia for diversification.
Apart from Revolt Intellicorp, the six other companies found violating the norms were Hero Electric, Okinawa Autotech, Ampere Vehicles (Greaves Cotton), Benling India, Amo Mobility, and Lohia Auto.