Telecom Bill Tabled In LS: Allows Govt To Control, Manage Or Suspend Any Telecommunication Services & Networks

New Delhi: In a move to replace the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act that governs the telecom sector, the Union government introduced the Telecommunications Bill 2023 on Monday. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tabled the bill in the Lok Sabha after it had received the Cabinet’s nod in August.

What it means

• The proposed legislation will allow the Union government to take over control, manage or suspend any telecommunication services, networks, or their components linked to such services, citing national security.
• The government will have the authority to instruct that certain messages, sent or received by specific individuals, through particular telecommunication equipment, or related to specific subjects should not be transmitted to “protect India’s sovereignty, integrity, and national security.”
• Such messages may be intercepted, detained, or disclosed in an “intelligible format” to the designated officer, as directed by the government’s order.

The draft legislation reads: “On the occurrence of any public emergency, including disaster management, or in the interest of public safety, the Central Government or a State Government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf by the Central Government or a State Government, if satisfied that is necessary or expedient so to do, by notification– (a) take temporary possession of any telecommunication service or telecommunication network from any authorised entity; or (b) provide for appropriate mechanism to ensure that messages of a user or group of users authorised for response and recovery during public emergency are routed on priority.”

The new bill proposes the government be vested with the power to waive off entry fees, licence fees, penalties etc. in the interest of consumers, ensuring competition in the market, availability or continuity of telecom networks, and national security.