HIGHLIGHTS
- The government is now able to halt any telecom service for grounds related to national security, thanks to the new telecom statute.
- Instead of holding an auction to distribute satellite spectrum, the government will do it directly.
- OTT services, such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and others, are not included in the new telecom bill’s criteria.
Three outdated legislation from 1885 will be replaced by a new telecom bill that the Indian government has filed in the Lok Sabha. The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933, the Telegraph Act of 1885, and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act of 1950 are these. The current Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, 1997 would also be modified by the bill.
Earlier in an effort to relieve pressure on Indian carriers, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has declared that it will no longer be providing mobile connections without first physically validating the customer’s details. This decision was made after much thought and expense. This change will take effect on January 1, 2024, and is anticipated to reduce the costs and time needed to bring on new clients while discouraging SIM fraud in the country.
The new bill also adds safety precautions, giving the government the authority to halt any operator’s services—whole or in part—in the event of a national security emergency. Let’s examine the new Telecom Bill of 2023 in more depth.
What Is the New Telecom Bill?
Three outdated laws that are part of the Indian Constitution—the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933, and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act of 1950—will be replaced by the Telecom Bill of 2023. After extensive consultations, government officials finally implemented the new bill, stating that the old laws were out of date with the rapidly advancing technology of the day.
Government May Suspend Telecom Services in Emergency Situations
The second most notable aspect of the new telecom bill is that, in the event of a national security danger, the government can now suspend the telecom services of any specific operator, person, or area. Any telecom service in the nation is also susceptible to government interceptions.
The precise conditions under which the government may halt or intercept telecom services have not yet been established, though. The bill just states that these authorities may be used in cases pertaining to national security. The bill also gives the government the power to punish and suspend anyone attempting to use the nation’s telecom services without authorization.
Additionally, it requires telecom providers to get subscribers’ permission before sending them any marketing or promotional materials.
Satellite Spectrum to Be Allocated by the Government Without Auctions
The government has now opted to assign satellite spectrum to satellite service providers rather than auctioning it off, which is the third noteworthy aspect of the new bill. Businesses like Amazon Kuiper, Starlink, Bharti OneWeb, Reliance Jio, and others will need to obtain a GMPCS license beforehand.
License holders for GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Services) are able to provide a range of satellite communication services, including messaging, phone, and the internet.
This will enable satcom service providers to charge their customers reasonable rates. Later on, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) would determine the spectrum’s pricing.
Aside from personal satellite communication, the government will also allocate spectrum for other purposes. This covers public broadcasting, disaster relief, and defense, among other things. Since there has never been a satellite spectrum sale, the decision was made to allocate spectrum through a manner other than an auction. For the record, municipal governments worldwide typically allot satellite spectrums.
Govt. Will Establish Guidelines for Purchasing Telecom Gear
Regarding the acquisition of telecom hardware, networks, infrastructure, and services, the bill also gives the central government the authority to establish guidelines and evaluations. This implies that the new measure will give the government the authority to determine what telecom equipment can be bought.
