Draft Telecommunication Bill to reduce paperwork, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

It is part of the overhauling exercise being done by the department of telecommunications internally as it looks to simplify procedures and provide ease of doing business to the industry

The Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022, is based on Wireless Planning Coordination (WPC) reforms aimed at making the process of companies applying for permits more efficient and without physical interference, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

Vaishnaw said the draft Bill would bring down the time for licensing to 28 days and usher in licensing reforms through an online process. “This will now reduce the paperwork and right of way (RoW) approval permission down to 6-7 days,” he said at the 9th Annual Forum of Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) on Thursday.

The minister said the reforms were