Government Proposes Rules For Assignment Of Spectrum Through Administrative Process Under The Telecom Act

On 17 June 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released the draft Telecommunications (Spectrum Assignment by Administrative Process) Rules, 2026 (Draft Rules) pursuant to the Telecommunications Act 2023 (Telecom Act).

Under the current Unified License regime, spectrum assignment was undertaken by either administrative assignment or auction-based allocation. The Telecom Act identifies categories of spectrum use that may be eligible for administrative assignment, such as national security and defence, law enforcement, public broadcasting, disaster management, scientific research, transportation safety, etc. The Draft Rules seek to operationalise these categories by prescribing a consolidated framework for such administrative assignments by prescribing eligibility criteria, application procedures, assignment conditions and compliance obligations.