NEW DELHI: The government will notify all the rules of the recently implemented Telecommunications Act within 180 days, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced on Thursday, July 18.
At the theme launch event of India Mobile Congress 2024, Scindia said, “We notified the Act late last month, and I commit to you that within 180 days, which is our deadline, we will have every rule notified so that all of you can walk down that path with complete confidence with the government by your side,” Scindia stated.
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Discussing BSNL, which is deploying 4G networks based on locally developed technology, Scindia praised the decision to use indigenous technology over foreign alternatives. “India must not only be the supplier of services, but we must become the supplier of products,” he said. He noted that BSNL is on track to install 1 lakh radio access networks (RANs) and that a performance monitoring unit (PMU) will be set up to oversee daily targets for BSNL’s 4G rollout. The targets will be monitored by the minister and Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal.
Scindia also emphasized that state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) must meet daily targets for 4G rollouts. He also mentioned that MTNL’s daily operations will be transferred to BSNL, and the monetization of MTNL’s assets will be pursued to pay off liabilities, ensuring no default on Sovereign Guarantee Bonds backed by the Government of India.
Scindia also highlighted India’s pride in developing its own 4G stack and expressed eagerness for domestic technology to be adopted in Indian phones.
Touching on the ease of doing business in the communications sector, Scindia stated that the government is transitioning from a regulatory to a facilitative role. “The communications ministry is not only committed to a transparent process, but I believe the time has come that the Government has moved from the role of being a regulator to the role of a facilitator because in your success lies our success and lies our country’s success,” he added.