Telecom Act 2023: A Game Changer In India's Digital Landscape

Divyanshi, Magadh University, Bihar

ABSTRACT

India's telecommunications business remains a force to be reckoned with on a worldwide scale. With a solid foundation created in recent years, experts anticipate tremendous growth in 2024 and beyond. When it comes to market size and ranking, industry reports predict the market value to be around USD 48.61 billion, rising to USD 76.16 billion by 2029 at a 9.40% CAGR1 [Mordor Intelligence]. This continuous rise indicates that India will certainly maintain its place as one of the world's leading telecoms markets. India's mobile data use is skyrocketing, thanks to inexpensive devices and aggressive data plan offerings. According to an Economic Times report for 2024, data traffic is expected to increase, with India accounting for an astonishing 20% 2of worldwide mobile data traffic. This translates into millions of new smartphone subscriptions, indicating an imminent digital revolution.

This article examines the Telecommunications Act, 2023 of India, a key advancement in the country's telecom sector. The emphasis is on understanding the historical context that shaped the legislation, including prior acts and their limits in the face of changing technologies.

This article delves into the essential sections of the new Act, covering topics such as authorization and licensing requirements, spectrum distribution, and rules for satellite internet providers. It also looks at the government's monitoring powers and its role in setting infrastructure standards.

In addition, the examination examines the Act's strengths and weaknesses. Positive features include the shift to new paradigms that accommodate multiple communication formats, as well as technology neutrality in spectrum use.

Keywords: Telecommunications Act, Indian Telecom Market Growth, Mobile Data Consumption ,5G Adoption, Digital Transformation, Telecom Regulation