The draft Telecommunications Bill, 2023, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, allows the government to take over, manage or suspend any or all telecommunication services or networks in the interest of national security.
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, aims to replace the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act that governs the telecom sector.
The Cabinet had cleared the bill in August.
The draft Telecommunications Bill released in 2023 proposed to bring over-the-top or internet-based calling and messaging apps under the definition of telecommunications to enhance users’ safety.
The bill had also proposed to curb the power of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), on which industry players had raised concerns.
According to government officials, the issues around over-the-top players and Trai were resolved before it was cleared by the Cabinet.
The draft had proposed to ease some of the rules like refund of fees for licence, registration etc. in case a company surrenders its permit.
The new bill proposes the government be vested with the power to waive off entry fees, licence fee, penalty etc. in the interest of consumers, ensuring competition in the market, availability or continuity of telecom networks, and national security.
