Less litigation, easy norms in coming telecom reform
NEW DELHI: The government plans to overhaul outdated telecom regulations to lift constraints that have hindered the industry’s growth and and may also consider making 5G spectrum more affordable, a top official said.
The changes aim to reduce excessive regulations, litigation and pending cases, addressing a key demand of the industry. The move comes after the Centre announced a rescue package for the struggling telecom sector.
The government is considering several options, including a new law or changes to existing laws, to boost growth amid rapid technological shifts.
The sector, primarily governed by the 1885 Indian Telegraph Act and the 1933 Wireless Telegraphy Act, has seen massive technological advancement over the past decade, rendering old statutes unsuitable for regulating the industry. “There is a series of rules and regulations that have got built up over 80 years that needs to be simplified. These are things that may not have a financial number around them, but the impact these things make will be over decades, that changes the structure of the industry,” communications and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in an interview.
The structural changes to the industry will ‘definitely’ address the issue of high litigation, the minister said, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an internal target of benchmarking India’s telecom regulation with the global best.
“We would like industry to focus on new investments, innovation, connecting the unconnected, which is the basic tenet of our government, rather than litigating,” he said. On whether the government would consider fresh legislation to aid growth of communication and digital services, Vaishnaw said, “We have to look at all the options.” The reforms are unlikely to focus on rationalization of taxes. But on high 5G spectrum prices, Vaishnaw said the government is thinking about making the airwaves a public good rather than a revenue maximization tool.