Technology, Media and Telecom

Due to the exigencies created by the COVID-19 pandemic, a worldwide upswing has been observed in global internet use, with many enterprises opting for ‘internet first’ models and customer opting for online transactions. Also, to avert potential health risks to employees, businesses have also increased their dependence on modern automated and interconnected devices (often deployed in remote locations) to monitor business indicators and complete routine operations with limited human intervention.

Following the footsteps of its sister states – Nagaland and Sikkim – Meghalaya has become the third state to regulate gaming and gambling under a license-based regime. This step has been taken by the Government of Meghalaya at a time when the gaming industry is facing heat on account of legislative prohibition or court action across India. The Honourable Governor of Meghalaya has promulgated the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Ordinance 2021 (Meghalaya Ordinance #1 of 2021) (Ordinance) on 13 February 2021.

On 15 February 2021, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) issued the ‘Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geospatial Data and Geo-spatial Data services including Maps’ (Guidelines). Acknowledging the benefits of availability of geospatial data and modern mapping technologies, the Guidelines seek to do away with the prior approvals, licenses and other restrictions on the collection, generation, preparation, dissemination, storage, publication, updating and/or digitization of geospatial data and maps in India.

The New OSP Guidelines supersede the ‘terms and conditions – Other Service Provider Category’ dated 5 August 2008 along with all its amendments (“Old OSP Guidelines”).

On 5 November 2020, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released ‘New Guidelines for Other Service Providers’ (New OSP Guidelines). The New OSP Guidelines supersede the ‘terms and conditions – Other Service Provider Category’ dated 5 August 2008 along with all its amendments (Old OSP Guidelines). With the New OSP Guidelines, the DoT has made significant alterations to the preceding regime that are expected to have far-reaching benefits for the outsourcing industry in India.

On 18 September 2020, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued two directions (Directions) dealing with publication and advertisement of tariffs by telecom service providers (TSP) with an aim to increase transparency in tariff plans. 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued its ‘Recommendations on Cloud Services’ on 14 September 2020 (Recommendations). The Recommendations are a culmination of an extensive consultation process that has virtually spanned over the last 8 years.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued its recommendations on regulatory framework for ‘over-the-top’ (OTT) communications services on 14 September 2020 (Recommendations). The Recommendations have been issued pursuant to a reference letter from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) dated 3 March 2016 by way of which DoT had sought recommendations of TRAI on net neutrality and other related aspects such as economic, security and privacy issues, and regulatory framework for OTT services, etc.