Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on September 22 that the new telecom bill will provide a clear roadmap for industry restructuring and will promote innovation.
Speaking at a Public Affairs Forum of India event, the minister stated that in the next one and a half to two years, the government should be able to completely revamp the entire digital regulatory framework, which aims to balance societal objectives, individual duties and rights, technology agnostic framework, and so on.
“Industry does go through various phases. Sometimes because of business environments, technology changes and various other factors. There is a need for restructuring.
How do you put that in the bill so that the industry gets a very clear roadmap?
‘If restructuring has to happen then these are the things that have to be taken care of. These are the things which are my rights, so that kind of clear framework has been put in this bill,” Vaishnaw said.
Set of laws for digital world
He stated that the digital world requires a comprehensive set of laws, and the Prime Minister has directed that India’s digital legal and regulatory framework be globally benchmarked.
“That doesn’t mean that we simply go around and copy whatever is best in the world. That means we have to aim at creating a digital legal framework, which the world should come and study. That’s a very big objective, but it’s possible,” Vaishnaw said. According to the draft telecommunication bill 2022, Over-the-top players like
Whatsapp, Zoom and Google Duo which provide calling and messaging services may require licences to operate in the country.
The draft bill includes OTT as a telecommunications service. The government has proposed a provision in the bill to waive telecom and internet service providers’ fees and penalties.
The ministry has also proposed a provision for fee refunds in the event that a telecom or internet provider surrenders his licence.
According to Vaishnaw, the next 25 years will be a period of inclusive growth, with a focus on manufacturing, innovation, rule simplification, and reforms in social infrastructure such as education and health.
