Parliament passes Telecommunications Bill 2023: 10 points on how it will benefit the consumer

government has passed Telecommunication Bill, 2023, which will significantly alter consumer and telecom network policy in country. 

new law has overhauled century-old telecom law, which is based on Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950. Let’s take a look at ways in which Telecommunications Bill 2023 will protect consumers in country.

Here's how new Telecommunications Bill 2023 will protect citizens:

1. Along with establishing strict guidelines for phone number spoofing in fraud, new Telecom Bill suggests a "digital-by-design" online grievance redressal system to handle consumer complaints. 
2. central government has established safeguards for users, like a do-not-disturb (DND) registry and need for prior approval to receive certain messages.
3. Anyone caught using someone else's official identification to obtain a SIM card fraudulently faces up to three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh, or both. Spoofing a SIM card is anor way to conceal one's identity from a call recipient.
4.  A penalty of up to of Rs 50,000 will be imposed on a person holding more than nine SIMs (per Ahaar Card) for first offence. A penalty of Rs 2,00,000 will be imposed on person for ensuing offences.
5. possession of unauthorised telecom equipment or use of an unauthorised cellular network or service is now illegal under new Telecommunications Bill 2023, and penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh are possible.
6. A provision has been introduced, which calls for biometric based identification (linked with Ahaar Card) of prospective subscribers by telecom service providers. It will avert criminals from securing SIM cards using wrong or fake identity proofs.
7. Telecom Bill offers a method for utilising right of way to install telecom equipment on both public and private land.
8. only method used by central government to allocate spectrum to telecom operators is auctions.
9. government will have authority to create regulations for security and guarantee of cybersecurity in telecommunications networks and services.
10.   central government will need to give prior authorisation before one can: (i) offer telecom services; (ii) build, run, maintain, or grow telecom networks; or (iii) own rio equipment. Licences that are currently in effect will remain so for duration of ir grant, or five years if no time frame is stated.