Telecommunication Sector Laws: A Legal Overview

This is the age of the Internet and wireless network communication systems. To regulate the activities and monitor the standards as well as the advanced developments taking place in the domain, the Indian telecommunication sector is governed by relevant laws.

Isn’t it difficult to imagine how people communicated across long and short distances without emails or the Internet? Interestingly, people in India always found ways to facilitate long distance communication. Many decades ago, the telephone was a status symbol in Indian homes because not every home could afford to have it. A home with a telephone was considered ‘well-off’ by the society and regarded with respect as it was too expensive for a common man to afford. Today, we have cell phones in nearly every home, not to mention other hi-tech gadgets that also facilitate sophisticated modes of communication.

Telecommunication Sector Laws: How People in India Communicated Across Distances

Early stories from Indian epics talked about doves, official messengers, drum beaters and other forms of messengers who had to carry important communication from one individual to the other. This means that the requirement for communicating across long distances existed right from the ancient Indian era. In fact, for about a century, the middle and lower strata in India relied on electronic telegraph to contact and communicate with their near and dear ones. This was followed by telex and telegram services. The purpose of such improvements was to facilitate swiftness in communication. Today’s telecommunication sector has evolved from its origins. The rules and regulations of the Telegraph Act 1885 still serve as the main foundation of the Indian telecommunication laws.

Telecommunication Sector Laws: The Telegraph Act 1885

Telecommunication sector laws began with the Telegraph Act 1885. This law was passed 120 years ago during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Telegraph Act has provisions covering modern telecommunication laws and systems. These are the Internet, satellite radio, landline telephones and cell phones. The Act has 44 sections, which are divided in five parts. Let’s take a quick look at every part of the Act:

Part I: All the important terms and concepts have been detailed in this part.

Part II: In this part, the Central Government has been given the right to handle all the telegraphic communications. The government can issue license to private companies to take care of telegraph services.

Part III: This comprises guidelines as to how the various communication equipments, such as wires and poles should be installed. It also explains how the matters of disputes between the service provider and property owners should be resolved.

Part IV: This part details the penalties that are levied on the telecommunication operators and users for unauthorized activities.

Part V: Delineates some supplemental provisions. Consumers demand much more than before, in terms of quality, design, delivery and speed in nearly every domain.

The Indian telecommunications sector is poised for greater changes than we can imagine now. For the same reason, it is important to accommodate new provisions to cover new developments or inventions in the Telegraph Act. After all, the statutes that govern the Indian telecommunication sector must be updated consistently to reflect the advances in technology.