Droupadi Murmu granted her formal assent to the legislation, which was previously cleared by Parliament following extensive deliberations between the Treasury and Opposition benches. The bill’s passage underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing mobile connectivity and bridging the digital divide across urban, rural, and remote regions of India.

Key Provisions and Government Rationale

The law empowers the executive to allocate spectrum administratively rather than solely through auction mechanisms. Officials have emphasized that this flexibility is critical for delivering rapid internet access to underserved communities and for bolstering sovereign capabilities through efficient spectrum management.

During parliamentary discussions, ministers highlighted that the framework will accelerate deployment of 4G and 5G services, reduce procedural delays, and support national priorities, including the Digital India initiative and rural broadband connectivity. They maintained that auctions remain the primary method for commercial spectrum assignments, with administrative assignments reserved for specific use cases.

Additionally, the statute updates the legal regime governing spectrum allocation, modernizes regulatory provisions, and seeks to align India’s telecom policies with international best practices while addressing national strategic requirements.

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