Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper on the ‘Framework for the Service Authorisations to be Granted Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023'. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through a letter dated 21 June 2024 informed TRAI that the Telecommunications Act, 2023 has been published in the Official Gazette of India; Section 3(1)(a) of the Act provides for obtaining an authorisation by any entity/ person intending to provide telecommunication services, subject to such terms and conditions, including fees or charges, as may be prescribed. DoT also shared a background note on related aspects in this regard, including relevant sections of the new Act that may have a bearing on the terms and conditions of authorisations.

DoT through the said letter dated 21 June 2024, under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended), requested TRAI to provide its recommendations on terms and conditions, including fees or charges, for authorisation to provide telecommunication services as per the provisions of the Telecommunications Act 2023.

Written comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper are invited from stakeholders by 1 August 2024 and counter-comments by 8 August 2024, respectively.