On Thursday, Rajya Sabha passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, with an aim to amend & consolidate the laws relating to the development, expansion & operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks, the assignment of spectrum & to amend certain provisions of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act (TRAI), 1997.
The Bill was passed through a voice vote by the Lok Sabha on Dec 20, 2023.
The bill provides for stringent provisions to stop the misuse of SIM cards and mobile numbers. The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 makes it mandatory for companies to issue SIMs only after capturing the biometric data of the user. It also has a provision for a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh for a person obtaining SIM or other telecom resource through fraud, cheating, or personation.
The bill allows the government to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security. It also enables the government to take a non-auction route for the allocation of satellite spectrum. It also allows the Centre to take possession of a telecom network in case of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety. Vaishnaw said that the bill would repeal two laws, including the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
The bill includes safeguards for telecom infrastructure and strengthens provisions to ensure the smooth implementation of networks, particularly optical fibre cables. Additionally, the government has suggested exempting telecom networks installed on any property from potential claims, encumbrances, liquidation, or similar issues associated with that property. Furthermore, the bill outlines the potential termination of spectrum assignment if the government finds that the allocated spectrum has remained unused without valid reasons.
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