Delhi. The Telecommunication Bill was passed in the Parliament, allowing telecom services in the country to be put under the temporary control of the Central Government in the interest of national security. There is also a provision in this bill to provide spectrum for satellite internet services without auction. This bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote. It got the green signal in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In this, the central government is allowed to take control of any telecom network in case of public emergency or in the interest of public safety. Along with this, it will also be allowed to transmit or intercept messages in case of public emergency, in public interest or to prevent incitement to commit crime. This bill states that press messages of correspondents accredited by the Central or State Government should not be intercepted unless their transmission is prohibited under the rules applicable to public emergency and public order.
According to the provisions of the Telecommunication Bill, 2023, on the occurrence of any emergency in the interest of disaster management or public safety, any authorized officer of the Central or State Government can take temporary possession of any telecommunication service or telecommunication network. Under the Telecommunication Bill, the government has proposed to bring over-the-top (OTT) or internet-based calling and messaging apps under the definition of telecommunication to increase the safety of users in the draft of the Telecommunication Bill.
The industry welcomed the bill. The telecom industry has welcomed this bill. Digital Infrastructure Providers Association Director General T.R. Dua says that this bill will greatly benefit the telecom infrastructure industry. This will bring uniformity in terms of rules and what the industry has to do. This will remove the problems caused by changing rules in different states.
At the same time, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), an organization of telecom companies, says that this bill will provide a lot of relief to the telecom network companies. This will give them relief from property tax, sealing without authority, cess, fees, duties and other taxes. It will also help in making common duct and cable corridor for laying network lines.
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), which represents more than 600 internet and startup companies in the country, says that the industry will benefit from keeping internet companies out of the purview of the telecom sector. This will clarify the difference between companies controlling spectrum and companies using spectrum. This will help in promoting internet and innovation in the country.
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