TRAI issued a consultation paper on ‘The Terms and Conditions of Network Authorisation to be Granted Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023′ on 22.10.2024 for seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the consultation paper. The last dates for furnishing comments and counter comments were 12.11.2024 and 19.11.2024 respectively. However, on the request of a few stakeholders, the last dates for furnishing written comments and counter comments were extended to 19.11.2024 and 26.11.2024 respectively.
Based on the comments received from stakeholders in the consultation process and on its own analysis, TRAI has finalized Recommendations on the Terms and Conditions of Network Authorisation to be Granted Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. These recommendations are aimed at fostering growth and enhancing ease of doing business in the telecom sector. Through these recommendations, the Authority has recommended a network authorisation framework, apart from detailed terms and conditions for various network authorisations to be granted under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Salient points of these recommendations are as given below:
- The Central Government should grant network authorisations under section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 instead of entering into an agreement with the entity.
- The detailed terms and conditions of each network authorisation should be prescribed through the rules notified under Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
- For any change(s) in the terms and conditions of the network authorisations emanating from these recommendations, except for the reason of the interest of the security of the State, the Central Government should seek TRAI’s recommendations.
