Appreciating the Budget proposals, Union Communication Minister Manoj Sinha today said that the government has provided 10,000 crore rupees for 2018-19 for augmentation of telecommunication infrastructure in the country. <br/><br/>Talking to media in New Delhi today, Mr. Sinha said, there has been a significant boost in infrastructural facilities in the last three years. <br/><br/>The additional expenditure planned in this budget, along with the private sector investment planned for the telecom sector, it would be further strengthened, especially in the non-connected areas. <br/><br/>The Minister said, the government has created a comprehensive telecommunication development plan for the entire North Eastern region wherein around 6,000 telecom towers will be installed to provide mobile connectivity in over 8,500 villages.<br/><br/>The Communication Minister said that the hike in customs duty on mobile phones and some of their parts and accessories will increase the domestic value addition by promoting component procurement and manufacturing within India. <br/><br/>He said, increase in the import duty shall further encourage equipment manufacturers to move beyond just component assembly and augment their manufacturing capacities in India.