The Ministry of Communications has again extended the deadline to share comments on the Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill 2022 to November 22, 2022.
Initially, the deadline for submission of comments was October 20, 2022, which was later extended to October 30, 2022. Post that, the government further extended the deadline to November 10, 2022.
The draft telecom bill, unveiled on September 21, 2022, enlarges the definition of telecom services and brought over-the-top (OTT) communication services (such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram), satellite-based communication services, internet and broadband services, inflight and maritime connectivity services amongst others under its ambit. Among several provisions, the bill also notes that going forward, airwaves could be assigned either through auctions or the administrative route, depending on requirements. The draft bill, once framed into Act, will govern the telecom sector.
