Breaking Barriers: Telecommunication Bill outstrips Indian Telegraph Act

Overview: Lok Sabha made way for the Telecommunication Bill, 2023 on December 20, 2023, marking a contemporary period in communication laws in India. The said bill is all set to take over the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act of 1885.

The prior Indian Telegraph Act administered all sorts of digital data communications. It gave the Indian government the authority to institute, conduct, and maintain all kinds of wired and wireless communication enclosed by Indian terrain. It has reportedly been replaced by the new bill for the purpose of amending and standardizing the telecommunications regime and administration. The said bill aims to clear away all the hindrances to constituting a telecom foundation. In addition to this, it also grants the government, for time, the right to hold domination over telecom services, keeping in mind nationwide surveillance.

Breaking Barriers: Advancements and Innovations in Telecommunication Bill

Along with the Indian Telegraph Act of 1855, the Telecommunication Bill repeals existing statutes, namely the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act of 1950. The sole purpose behind repealing these laws and implementing the new bill is to revamp the managerial structure of Indian telecom networking.

The bill was introduced on December 18 by Ashwini Vaishnav, the current Minister of Communication and Information Technology, after a long debate before it was passed.

The Telecom Bill 2023 serves as an instrument to examine the right of way for laying down a telecom foundation both in the arenas of private and public assets. It also entails the union government handing over to the users such measures as, for instance, safeguarding their data, asking for permission before receiving certain messages, and many other provisions.

Under the bill, it becomes necessary for service providers to seek sanction from the central government to initiate and organize telecommunication networks. After the government authorizes, they can carry forward with the supply of telecommunication services.

The bill lays down provisions as per which union governments and state governments are authorized to take hold of any such telecom service from the authorized entity during times of emergency or to safeguard the interests of the public at large.

The bill contributes towards many such structural reforms in the telecommunications sector and is awaiting its passage in Rajya Sabha.