India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, October 2022: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently released the draft Indian Telecommunications Bill 2022, replacing the age-old Indian Telegraph Act of 1885. The draft Bill explicitly expands the concept of telecom service. OTT services have been included in the telecom services. This could create the basis for a potential licensing and regulatory regime with a much wider scope than before. Second, the Bill deals with licensing and registration. As OTT platforms have been covered under telecom services, they may also have to seek licenses to operate in India. Third, the draft Bill provides for messages or communication over telecommunication services to be intercepted in case of a public emergency. Fourth, the Bill covers issues related to simplifying the process of spectrum allocation and proposes a new regime on the right of way for networks and infrastructure. Fifth, it also establishes a Telecommunication Development Fund to boost connectivity services in underserved areas. Sixth, the draft Bill has introduced ease in merger control and insolvency norms in the telecom sector. In this context, the Esya Centre and NASSCOM organized a two-hour roundtable to discuss and analyse the draft Bill.