Draft Telecom Bill 2023 empowers Centre to suspend services, take over networks for national security

The Narendra Modi government introduced the Telecommunications Bill 2023 in the Lok Sabha on Monday during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The new Telecom Bill, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet in August earlier this year is likely to replace the archaic Indian Telegraph Act.

This 138-year-old colonial law is still in force and governs the telecom sector in India. The draft Bill gives some critical powers to the Centre to regulate the telecom sector. Apart from Telegraph Act, 1885, the new Telecom Bill also aims to replace two other laws. These are the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and The Telegraph Wire (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.