Centre Dissolves 37-Year-Old Digital Communications Commission

The government has notified the dissolution of the Digital Communications Commission, a senior decision-making body at the Department of Telecom established 37 years ago. Originally formed in 1989 as the Telecom Commission and renamed in 2018, the body was responsible for deciding policy matters and subjects with significant financial implications.

The commission, comprising officials from NITI Aayog, Finance Ministry, and other departments, resolved contentious telecom issues before they reached the Cabinet. It approved decisions on matters including spectrum pricing and recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The body held its final meeting on September 3, where it approved satcom spectrum allocation.

Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications have received permission to offer satcom services, though spectrum allocation and security clearances remain pending. The DCC's satcom recommendation now awaits Cabinet approval.