Department of Telecommunications

History

Telecom services have been recognized the world-over as an important tool for socio-economic development for a nation and hence telecom infrastructure is treated as a crucial factor to realize the socio-economic objectives in India. Accordingly, the Department of Telecom has been formulating developmental policies for the accelerated growth of the telecommunication services. The department is also responsible for grant of licenses for various telecom services like Unified Access Service Internet and VSAT service. The department is also responsible for frequency management in the field of radio communication in close coordination with the international bodies. It also enforces wireless regulatory measures by monitoring wireless transmission of all users in the country.

The Digital Communications Commission, an apex inter-departmental decision-making body within the department formed in 1989 as the Telecom Commission and renamed in 2018, was dissolved with effect from 19 September 2026. Its approval functions were transferred to the telecom secretary, the minister or an Expenditure Finance Committee depending on the value involved. The Commission, which included senior officials from NITI Aayog, the finance ministry and other departments, had decided on telecom policy matters including spectrum pricing and recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and held its last meeting on 3 September 2026 to finalise a decision on satellite communication spectrum.