INDIAN TELEGRAPH ACT
Trai inputs sought on rolling out authorisation mechanism
"Trai met the telecom operators and internet service providers today (Thursday) to seek their inputs on the authorisation structure. The players can provide their comments by early next week, following which Trai will issue a consultation paper," an official told ET on condition of anonymity. The Telecommunications Act, which came into force on June 26, calls for a simple regulatory framework by abolishing the license regime and replacing it with an authorisation mechanism.
Know all about the Telecom Act which came into effect on June 26
(DoT) initiated the process in July 2022 and a draft Bill was put out for consultation in September that year. During the consultation process, 60 ministries, 35 associations, 89 companies including seven telcos and internet service providers, and over 700 other entities responded. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2023, and was passed by the Lower House of Parliament on December 20, 2023 and the Rajya Sabha on the following day.
Telecom Act 2023 based on principles of inclusion, growth, responsiveness for developed India
The Telecommunications Act, 2023, effective from June 26, emphasizes inclusion, security, growth, and responsiveness for a developed India, enabling government control for national interests, research and development funding, and fair infrastructure access for network expansion.
Government can take control of all telecom networks in times of emergency under new Telecom Act
The Telecommunications Act will establish Digital Bharat Nidhi for funding research and development instead of just supporting rural telecom services. It supersedes existing telecom rules under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Wireless Telegraphy Act (1933).
Some sections of Telecom Act to come into force from June 26
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 26th Day of June 2024, as the date on which the provisions of sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the said Act shall come into force,” a gazette notification issued late Friday said. Officials told ET that the new Telecommunications Act and these sections have come into force.
Delhi Police nabs three persons for IPL match betting
"Special Task Force, a team of Delhi Police apprehended three persons, namely Pradeep Sharma alias Boby (33), Mohit Arora (35) and Mukesh Sharma (44)," the Police said in an official statement.
- Go To Page 1
DoT abolishes wireless operating licenses for ease of doing biz
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Tuesday abolished wireless operating licenses for establishing and maintaining telecommunications, paving the way for a simplified regulatory regime and would also enable faster rollout of networks and increase mobile broadband penetration in the country.
DoT readying over 30 rules based on new Telecom Act
New Telecom Act: The rules will define spectrum pricing for administrative allocation to services like satellite communication, a lawful interception mechanism for carriers and the conditions for spectrum trading, sharing and surrender, among others.
Telecommunications Bill gets President's assent
The legislation - which allows the government to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security - was cleared by the Lok Sabha on December 20, and by Rajya Sabha on December 21.
OTT not under ambit of Telecom Bill: Ashwini Vaishnaw
The minister's first official comments on the issue are likely to allay concerns raised by some app makers and activists that the broad definition of 'telecommunications' can be interpreted to cover any internet-based communication, said industry executives and experts.
Rajya Sabha passes Telecommunications Bill 2023
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The bill aims to amend and consolidate the laws related to the development, expansion, and operation of telecommunication services and networks. It also focuses on the assignment of spectrum and the amendment of certain provisions of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act (TRAI), 1997.
Lok Sabha approves Telecom Bill 2023. Key things to know
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha approved the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, granting the government the authority to temporarily manage telecom services for national security reasons. The bill, facilitated by Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, also permits the government to seize control of a telecom network during public emergencies or for public safety. Passed by a voice vote after a brief debate, the bill, which allows for stopping transmission and intercepting messages in specific situations, aims to promote structural reforms in the telecom sector, according to Vaishnaw.
New Telecom Bill will allow govt to take over or suspend mobile services during emergencies
The Union communications minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, presented the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha, aiming to replace the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act. The bill brings internet-based calling and messaging apps under the definition of telecommunications for enhanced user safety. It grants the central government authority to manage or suspend telecommunication services in public emergencies.
India to allot satellite internet airwaves without auction in win for Musk
The proposal was included in a new draft bill for the telecommunications sector, which seeks to replace the 138-year old Indian Telegraph Act that currently governs the sector. The bill was tabled for approval in parliament on Monday. While Starlink and its global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper, and the British government-backed OneWeb would rejoice in the move, it is a setback to Mukesh Ambani, Asia's wealthiest, who runs Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio.
Telecommunications Bill 2023 tabled in Lok Sabha
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has introduced the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, which allows the government to suspend or prohibit use of telecom equipment from countries or individuals for national security reasons. The bill also proposes prior consent for certain messages and an adjudicating mechanism for license breaches.
Clash in Bihar town during religious procession, internet suspended for two days
According to the police, the trouble erupted in the Bhagwan Bazar locality of Chhapra, which is the headquarters of Saran district, when a procession for immersion of Goddess Durga's idols was being taken out. "During the procession, DJ was being played at full blast. In protest, some anti-social elements threw stones. The situation was brought under control after police reached the spot and took charge of visarjan (immersion of idols)," said the district police.
Cloud services: Trai rejects DoT's view on MeitY's jurisdiction
Trai has stuck to its earlier position that cloud infrastructure/services can’t be separated from telecom infrastructure/services from a regulatory perspective, and that in an age of convergence, regulatory interventions must happen as and when required in the case of cloud services to protect customer interests.
No 'quick nod' for mobile towers to impact projects in remote areas
The FAC has held that this was not 'tenable' as the special dispensation was only for public utility projects implemented by a government department and setting up of mobile towers is a 'commercial' activity, as per the minutes of the FAC meeting.
Won't regulate cloud service providers, best regulated by MeitY, DoT tells TRAI
As per the officials, the DoT examined the regulator’s 2020 recommendations on the subject and decided against accepting them. “Meity has been regulating the cloud service providers and the arrangement should continue. We have informed our point of view to Trai,” a DoT official told ET.
Fresh stone pelting in West Bengal's Hooghly; local, mail express train services suspended
According to Easter Railway Chief Public Relations Officer, Kaushik Miron, an incident of stone pelting occurred at Rishra Railway Station.
ELCOT becomes nodal agency for issues related to telecom infrastructure in Tamil Nadu
Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has been notified as the nodal agency to address issues relating to telecom infrastructure in the state, and to develop a single electronic application process, required for submission of online applications by infrastructure providers for grant of Right of Way (RoW) permissions.
New Telecom Bill to be tabled in monsoon session of Parliament
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sorted out issues around possible dilution of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's powers and potential domain overlap with the broadcasting ministry. The draft will also propose light-touch regulation for over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp and Signal from the prism of national security and consumer safety and not from a revenue generation standpoint.
Trai floats consultation paper on unified licence regime
“Given the importance of digital infrastructure and its linkages to overall socio-economic development, it’s imperative that a conducive framework is defined where entities who are focussed on only creating infrastructure over which any service can ride, are promoted,” the consultation paper said.
Creditors won't get to sell spectrum if Co goes bankrupt
The draft telecom bill has cleared the air on spectrum ownership for companies undergoing insolvency proceedings and around regulating OTT communication services, analysts said.
Telecom Bill leaves a lot to be covered through regulations: NASSCOM
"A future-ready Telecommunication Bill will be an important step towards designing a framework which supports regulatory stability, investment, and innovation in the telecom sector," Ashish Aggarwal, Vice President, Public Policy of NASSCOM said in a statement.
New telecom bill likely to be in place in 6-10 months: Aswini Vaishnaw
The Department of Telecommunications has set the deadline of October 20 on the draft bill.
India to bring at least 3 more legislations to overhaul digital regulatory system
The reforms process for the telecom sector was started in September last year, when the government announced a slew of structural reforms including redefining adjusted gross revenue (AGR) definition. It was followed by reforms in the wireless promotion and coordination (WPC) wing and more recently the right of way rules (RoW).
It's testing times as Assam suspends mobile internet during exams in 25 districts
An order issued by the state's home and political department invoked section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Service (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rule, 2017, to suspend mobile internet services from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2pm to 4 pm on August 21 and 28. However, broadband-based services would remain functional through the period, it said.
NSE phone tapping case: Ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey moves Delhi HC for bail
The trial court had said the material available prima face showed he was actively involved in the execution of recording and monitoring of calls at the NSE and was directly communicating with the bourse staff as well as those of the iSec Services Pvt Ltd, the company he founded and which was responsible for the cyber security audit of the NSE.
Load More
