Budget 2024: Local telecom gear manufacturing to get a boost with customs duty hike

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed a 5% increase in the basic customs duty (BCD) of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) to 15% in Budget 2024-25, aiming to boost local manufacturing of telecom network gear and make imports costlier. This move is expected to increase local PCBA production, reducing the final price of telecom network equipment, according to industry experts. Some feel the proposed 15% BCD increase is insufficient, as domestic telecom gear makers were hoping for a higher percentage to ensure a level playing field.