Centre Dissolves 37-Year-Old Telecom Commission That Shaped Key Policy Decisions

The Indian government has formally dissolved the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), an influential inter-departmental committee established in 1989. The Commission, formerly known as the Telecom Commission, was responsible for making key policy decisions in the telecom sector, which often involved substantial financial implications.

Its members included senior officials from various departments such as NITI Aayog, the Finance Ministry, and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The DCC played a pivotal role in resolving contentious issues, including determining spectrum prices and providing recommendations to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The Commission's last meeting took place on September 3, where it finalized its stance on satellite communication spectrum allocations. The DCC's decisions had to undergo a final approval process by the Cabinet. Key players in the satellite industry, such as Elon Musk-led Starlink, Bharti Group's Eutelsat OneWeb, and Reliance Industries' Jio Satellite Communications, have received permission to commence their satellite services in India.

However, the implementation of these services awaits the allocation of spectrum and additional clearance from security agencies. The dissolution of the DCC means that the final approval of the TRAI's recommendations on satellite spectrum now rests solely with the Cabinet.