Telecom Bill -A giant leap forward, BIF

In its apex Executive Council meeting on 20th instant, Broadband India Forum (BIF), the leading independent Think-Tank and Policy Forum for Digital Communications in the country, discussed the Telecommunications Bill 2023, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Hon’ble Minister for Communications & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw on 18th December 2023. It praised the bill and unanimously adopted the following resolution formally:

The EC was of the view that this was a historic milestone in the annals of Indian Telecom and truly a giant leap forward for the Bharat Digital Economy. This extremely progressive Bill that consolidates different laws of 1885, 1933 and 1950, to further catalyze this rapidly growing technological age was warmly hailed by the EC. It brings in clarity on a plethora of key issues that have been before the sector – the TRAI power & functions, protection and duties of telecom users, clarity in definition of telecommunication service, exclusion of OTTs from the purview of Telecom regulations, administrative allocation of satellite spectrum and certain other types of spectrum, Right of Way issues, spurring of Universal Service and Innovation/R&D through a Digital Bharat Nidhi and Regulatory Sandbox and many other important aspects.

The BIF EC believes that the landmark Bill will help achieve increased acceleration of internet/broadband penetration and will provide a huge impetus to the growth of the digital economy. It will bring about many consumer benefits besides boosting investor confidence and fetching billions of dollars of FDI in the digital sector. Further, it would help incentivize the exponential growth of the space startups segment which already has 189 startups, thereby boosting India’s Space Mission.

The Executive Council solemnly resolved that BIF and its members will spare no efforts to leverage the Bill and support the Government to further speeding India’s Journey on the Digital Highway.

While praising the bill, Mr. TV Ramachandran, President, Broadband India Forum, commented, “The Indian Telecommunications Bill 2023 will serve as a strong enabler for the larger digital ecosystem and, in particular, the innovative OTT Apps and Satellite Sectors in the country. It seeks to address several inhibiting issues and would lead to tremendous boost to investor confidence, thereby causing a quantum jump in the growth of the sector.”
BCS Bureau