The letter mentions that this act has been published in the Official Gazette of India
Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a Consultation Paper on the Framework for Service Authorisations for the Provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), in a letter dated July 25, 2024, informed TRAI that the Telecommunications Act, 2023 has been published in the Official Gazette of India. Section 3(1)(a) of this Act, still pending notification, requires any entity or person intending to provide telecommunication services to obtain authorisation, subject to terms and conditions, including fees or charges, as prescribed.
Regarding broadcasting services, MIB highlighted that many broadcasting platforms using radio waves and spectrum—such as DTH, HITS, IPTV, television channel uplinking/downlinking (including teleports), SNG, DSNG, Community Radio, and FM Radio—currently receive licenses, permissions, or registrations from MIB under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, now replaced by the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
MIB also provided a background note detailing the policy guidelines for these licenses/permissions/registrations and referenced sections of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 that may impact the terms and conditions of authorisations. In the same letter, under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, MIB requested TRAI’s recommendations on terms, conditions, and fees for broadcasting service authorisations. This aims to align the process with the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and standardize authorisation terms across service providers, so these can be notified as Rules under the new Act.