The government has dissolved the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the Department of Telecommunications’ top inter-departmental decision-making body, nearly 37 years after establishing it as the Telecom Commission.
The government notified the move on September 19, as the telecom sector prepares for the next stage of satellite communications services in India.
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Digital Communications Commission Dissolved After 37 Years
The government said the Digital Communications Commission will stand dissolved from the date the resolution was published. The body was formed in 1989 as the Telecom Commission and renamed the Digital Communications Commission in 2018.
The commission brought together senior officials from NITI Aayog, the Finance Ministry, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and other departments. It handled telecom policy matters and issues with significant financial implications.
For years, the DCC helped settle contentious telecom issues and firm up decisions on most major matters before sending them to the Cabinet for final approval. Its work included decisions on spectrum pricing and recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
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DCC’s Last Decision Was On Satcom Spectrum
The Digital Communications Commission held its final meeting on September 3, where it firmed up the decision on spectrum for satellite communications.
Elon Musk-led Starlink, Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Industries’ Jio Satellite Communications have received permission to start satellite communication services in India. However, the services cannot begin until spectrum is allocated and security agencies complete the second stage of clearance.
The DCC had approved most of TRAI’s recommendations on the matter. Its recommendation on satcom spectrum now requires Cabinet approval.
The dissolution therefore comes as a key spectrum decision for India’s emerging satellite communications market moves to the next stage of approval.
The telecom sector’s immediate focus will be the Cabinet’s decision on satcom spectrum and the steps that follow on spectrum allocation and security clearance.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
