Union Minister of Telecom and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, presented the Telecom Bill 2023 in Lok Sabha, addressing the changing technology landscape and replacing outdated policies. The telecom and tech industry has welcomed the bill, which offers key solutions, including clarity on spectrum allocation for satellite communication (satcom) companies. The government has clarified that spectrum for satellite telephony services can be administratively allocated rather than through auctions, meeting the expectations of satcom players.
Under the bill, the Indian government has renamed the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) as Digital Bharat Nidhi. Additionally, the central government will have the authority to prescribe standards and assessments for telecom equipment, infrastructure, networks, and services.
Industry reactions to the Telecom Bill 2023 are positive, particularly among infrastructure providers. The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), representing major players like Indus Towers and STL, commended the bill. DIPA appreciates the government’s efforts to ensure uniformity in Right of Way (RoW) rules across states and reduce the tax burden on digital infrastructure.
Tech and internet bodies express satisfaction with the exclusion of Over-the-Top (OTT) players from telecom regulation. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) had recommended this exclusion, and the government incorporated it into the bill. IAMAI stated that the bill now excludes email, internet-based communication services, broadcasting services, machine-to-machine communication services, and over-the-top (OTT) communication services.
