New Law To Address Spectrum Issues Likely To Be Introduced In Parliament's Monsoon Session: Report

The government is working on a law to replace the India Wireless Act, 1938 in a bid to address issues related to the airwaves, reports Economic Times.

Several ministries including defence, home affairs along with department of telecommunications (DoT) and the department of space are currently working on the draft of the new law tentatively titled the Wireless and Spectrum Act.

"The idea is to create a roadmap for all wireless communication such as mobile, satellite, even for defence purposes, in harmony with the global best practices and standards," an official was quoted in the ET report as saying.

According to the report, the legislation, which is likely to tabled in the Parliament in the monsoon session, aims to put to rest all the disputes and debates on which spectrum is to be auctioned, allocated or reserved for defence and other government purposes.

Another official was quoted in the report as saying that the new law will be modelled on the lines of the US' Communications Act of 1934.

The legislation will supersede several court orders and address litigation in the telecom sector. It will also allow the government to auction or allocate airwaves depending upon the requirements at any given time in the future.