Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Amendment Order, 2025

[DoT Order S.O. 2962 (E) dated 2 July, 2025]

S.O. 2962 (E).— Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section of section 58 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023) (the said Act), made the Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2024 with effect from 26th June, 2024 for the purpose of crediting of sums of money to Digital Bharat Nidhi which were payable towards Universal Service Obligation under licenses granted on or after the 26th June, 2024;

And whereas, the Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2024 came in force on 26th June, 2024 and was in force till the expiry of a period of ten months from the said date;

And whereas, the said period of ten months expired on the 25th April, 2025;

And whereas, the provisions of section 3 of the said Act in accordance with which authorisations are to be granted have not yet come in force and the rules, which are necessary to give effect to the said provisions, have also not yet been made;

And whereas, difficulty may arise in crediting sums of money payable towards Universal Service Obligation Fund under the licenses granted on or after 26th April, 2025 to the Digital Bharat Nidhi, which may hinder in achieving the objectives under section 25 of the said Act;

And whereas, it is expedient to remove the said difficulty;

And whereas, paragraph 2 of the Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2024 is self- contained, which provides that the sums of money payable towards Universal Service Obligation under licenses granted on or after the 26th June, 2024, shall be credited to the Digital Bharat Nidhi till such time the said Order is in force and all actions that may be taken by the Central Government in respect of licenses granted under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885) on or after the 26th June, 2024 towards Universal Service Obligation shall be deemed to be actions taken under the said Act.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 58 of the said Act, except as respects things done or omitted to be done on and from the 26th April, 2025 till the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the Central Government hereby makes the following Order to amend the Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2024, namely:—

1. (1) This Order may be called the Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Amendment Order, 2025.

(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In Telecommunications (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2024, in paragraph 1, for sub- paragraph (2), following sub-paragraph shall be substituted, namely:–

“(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.”.

[F.No. 17-01/2020-Restg.(Vol IV)]