New Delhi: The Ministry of Communications’ Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has agreed to extend the deadline for submitting opinions on the proposed Telecom Bill to October 30, 2022.

On October 17, a DoT announcement read, “In response to the requests received from various stakeholders, the Ministry has decided to extend the last period for receipt of comments through October 30, 2022.” This ministry published the draught Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022, along with an explanation, on the DoT website on September 21, 2022. The earlier deadline for feedback submission was October 20.

According to the note, the country’s telecommunications industry supports more than 4 million jobs and accounts for around 8% of the GDP.

A public consultation process was started by the Ministry of Communications in order to create a legal framework that is both contemporary and futuristic. A consultation paper on the “Need for a New Legal Framework Governing Telecommunication in India” was issued in July 2022, and feedback was requested.

The Consultation Paper described the current legal landscape and the problems it raises. The Consultation Paper emphasized how other nations’ telecommunications regulations have changed over time.

Then, feedback was obtained from numerous stakeholders and business organisations.

The draught telecom bill, which was unveiled in late September, broadened the definition of telecom services and included, among other things, over-the-top (OTT) communication services (such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram), satellite-based communication services, internet and broadband services, in-flight and maritime connectivity services. In the future, depending on the needs, airwaves could be assigned either through administrative means or through auctions.