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TELECOMMUNICATIONS (AMATEUR
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (COMMERCIAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (CRITICAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (RIGHT
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (TELECOM
CYBER SECURITY) RULES, 2024
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (TEMPORARY
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (REMOVAL OF DIFFICULTIES) ORDER, 2024
Telecommunications Act, 2023
[NO. 44 OF 2023]
An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title, extent and commencement.
11. (1) This Act may be called the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
(2)It extends to,—
(i) the whole of India; and
(ii) to any offence committed or contravention made outside India by any person, as provided in this Act.
(3)It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification2 in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the commencement of that provision.
1. Enforced with effect from 26-6-2024.
2. NOTIFICATION NO. S.O. 2408(E), DATED 21-6-2024: In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 26th Day of June, 2024, as the date on which the provisions of sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the said Act shall come into force.
NOTIFICATION NO. S.O. 2623(E), DATED 4-7-2024: In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 5th Day of July, 2024 as the date on which the provisions of sections 6 to 8, 48 and 59(b) of the said Act shall come into force.
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
1.1 Applicability of this Act
It extends to the whole of India [Section 1(2)(i)]
1.2 Extraterritorial jurisdiction: Applicable to offences committed/contravention made outside India
It applies to any offence committed or contravention made outside India by any person [Section 1(2)(ii)]
Applicability to offence/contravention outside India will be as provided in this Act [Section 1(2)(ii)] Section 50 of this Act contains provisions in this regard. Definitions.
32. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “appointed day” means such date as the Central Government may, by notification appoint under sub-section (3) of section 1;
(b) “assignment” of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel means the permission for a radio station to use a radio frequency or radio frequency channel under specified conditions;
(c) “assignee” means a person holding an assignment of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel under section 4;
(d) “authorisation” means a permission, by whatever name called, granted under this Act for—
(i) providing telecommunication services;
(ii) establishing, operating, maintaining or expanding telecommunication networks; or
(iii) possessing radio equipment;
(e) “authorised entity” means a person holding an authorisation under section 3;
(f) “critical telecommunication infrastructure” means telecommunication networks notified under sub-section (3) of section 22;
(g) “message” means any sign, signal, writing, text, image, sound, video, data stream, intelligence or information sent through telecommunication;
(h) “National Frequency Allocation Plan” means guidelines issued from time to time by the Central Government for the use of the spectrum;
(i) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
(j) “person” shall include an individual, any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, by whatsoever name called or referred to;
(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(l) “radio equipment” means telecommunication equipment used or capable of use for telecommunication by means of Hertzian or radio waves;
(m) “radio waves” means electromagnetic waves of frequencies propagated in space without any artificial guide;
(n) “Schedule” means a schedule to this Act;
(o) “spectrum” means the range of frequencies of Hertzian or radio waves;
(p) “telecommunication” means transmission, emission or reception of any messages, by wire, radio, optical or other electro-magnetic systems, whether or not such messages have been subjected to rearrangement, computation or other processes by any means in the course of their transmission, emission or reception;
(q) “telecommunication equipment” means any equipment, appliance, instrument, device, radio station, radio equipment, material, apparatus, or user equipment, that may be or is being used for telecommunication, including software and intelligence integral to such telecommunication equipment; and excludes such equipment as may be notified by the Central Government;
(
r) “telecommunication identifier” means a series of digits, characters and symbols, or a combination thereof, used to identify uniquely a user, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication network, elements of a telecommunication network, telecommunication equipment, or an authorised entity;
(
s) “telecommunication network” means a system or series of systems of telecommunication equipment or infrastructure, including terrestrial or satellite networks or submarine networks, or a combination of such networks, used or intended to be used for providing telecommunication services, but does not include such telecommunication equipment as notified by the Central Government;
(t) “telecommunication service” means any service for telecommunication;
(u) “user” means a natural or legal person using or requesting a telecommunication service, but does not include person providing such telecommunication service or telecommunication network.
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
2.1 Telecommunication [Section 2(p)]
Essential ingredients of the definition of “Telecommunication” are as follows:
It means transmission, emission or reception of any messages by wire, radio, optical or other electro-magnetic systems
It does not matter whether or not such messages have been subjected to rearrangement, computation or other processes by any means in the course of their transmission, emission or reception.
Telecommunications Act 2023 with Rules – Bare Act with Section Notes
AUTHOR : Taxmann’s Editorial Board
PUBLISHER : Taxmann
DATE OF PUBLICATION : January 2026
EDITION : 2026 Edition
ISBN NO : 9789375613442
No. of Pages : 148
BINDING TYPE : Paperback
Rs. 195
DESCRIPTION
Telecommunications Act 2023 with Rules [Bare Act with Section Notes] by Taxmann is a comprehensive and authoritative statutory publication. This publication goes beyond a plain Bare Act by integrating the complete text of the Telecommunications Act 2023 with all notified Rules (2024–2025), Schedules, Orders, Notifications, and a curated digest of transitional judicial precedents under the repealed Telegraph Act. The law is presented as updated and enforced up to date, making this edition a reliable and practical statutory reference.
This book is intended for the following audience:
• Telecom Service Providers & Infrastructure Companies
• Corporate Lawyers & Regulatory Advisors
• Government Departments & Regulators
• Cyber Security, Compliance & Risk Professionals
• Judiciary & Quasi-Judicial Authorities
• Academicians & Students
The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the Telecommunications Act [Act No. 44 of 2023] and Rules, with the following noteworthy features:
• [Complete & Updated Text] of the Telecommunications Act 2023, arranged chapter-wise
• [Pre-amendment Provisions] reproduced through amendment footnotes to explain the pre-amendment legal position and transitional applicability
• [Concise Section Notes] explaining scope, applicability, and operational impact
• [Incorporation of Subordinate Legislation], including:
o Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules 2024
o Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules 2024
o Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules 2024 (with 2025 amendments)
o Telecommunications (Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure) Rules 2024
o Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules 2024
o Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules 2024
o Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules 2025
• [Detailed Schedules] governing spectrum assignment and civil penalties
• [Notifications] declaring Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure across mobile, internet, satellite, and submarine cable systems
• [Transitional Case Law Digest] under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 for interpretive continuity
• [Exhaustive Subject Index] for quick and precise reference